SPA has again taken the Federal Government to task for its proposed Streaming Services Reporting and Investment Scheme, labelling the next steps in the media reform agenda as "weak" and "lacking in a vision or plan".
"Let’s make no bones about it - this is a disaster."
In the lead up to the federal election, the fight to regulate streaming services looks poised to get noisier: Australian Directors Guild executive director Alaric McAusland told Screen Forever Tuesday that the industry was currently "way too polite" to government on the issue.
The Interactive Games and Electronics Association is aiming to keep gaming on the agenda in the lead up to the Federal Election, publishing a policy platform outlining objectives for the sector.
The Federal Government has committed $4.2 billion in funding for the public broadcasters over the next three years, while concurrently outlining the next steps in its media reform agenda.
Australia's leading children's producers are calling for a 20 per cent children's sub-quota to be placed on streaming platforms, based on an overall 20 per cent revenue-based local content requirement.
The Documentary Australia Foundation is urging the Federal Government to treat documentary distinctly from drama as it proceeds with reform to the Producer Offset.
Both SPA and the ADG have identified the potential for a "production void" if there is a prolonged delay between the government's relaxation of local content quotas for commercial free-to-air broadcasters and any imposition of obligations on streamers.
"The Minister should acknowledge and encourage our home-grown creatives too. The Australians working on local stories and projects, generating IP, creating jobs and running small businesses as they tell our stories; stories that must be told," write Shadow Minister for the Arts and Industrial Relations Tony Burke and Shadow Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland.