Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts Paul Fletcher has doubled down on criticism of the ABC for its response to potential local content obligations, but has sympathised with other industry views on the green paper – namely the call for streaming platforms to spend 20 per cent of their local revenue on Australian content.
Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason has acknowledged that the government's proposed media reforms may result in fewer theatrical features but said the organisation remained committed to supporting projects for which cinemas were the "perfect home".
ABC managing director David Anderson reiterated his opposition to local content obligations for the broadcaster at Senate Estimates on Tuesday, describing it as a "breach of independence".
The past four years have seen the ABC’s commissioning budgets for adult drama and children’s content drop around 20 per cent each, according to new data released via Senate Estimates.