AWG Response to the Interim Report of the Convergence Review

15 December, 2011

“Convergence Review is well placed to resolve the problem of untied public funding in Australian content production” says AWG.

“The Australian Writers’ Guild is pleased with the interim findings of the Federal Government’s Convergence Review, in particular it’s clear commitment to the preservation of Australian content on our screens,” says Angela Keefe, Organising and Industrial Manager at the Guild.

Australian content quotas for quality scripted adult drama, children’s programming and drama are the cornerstone of preserving this important content. 

“The AWG believes that regulation should focus on outcomes – not just investment in Australian content,” says Keefe. “It is important that the government’s policy makes its intended outcomes from that investment clear, in terms of quality Australian scripted drama delivered to the public.”

The Australian Writers’ Guild (AWG) supports the Convergence Review’s Interim Report recommending a continuation of the current 55% quotas of Australian content on free to air TV and the extension of the quota to the ABC.  However, the AWG continues to look for extension of quotas to all multi-channels and the application of quotas for Content Service Providers utilising the public infrastructure of the NBN. 

“Any new scheme must be firm enough to withstand the pressures on Australian content provision such as the near constant attempts by Content Service Providers to replace it with more profitable content from overseas.  Also, flexibility is important, but will it stand up to challenges under the Australia – United States Free Trade Agreement?” says Keefe.

On the Producer Offset:

“The Australian Writers’ Guild agrees with an increase in the Producer Offset for quality television and its extension to quality online content in theory, but in practice there areserious problems with its current implementation in the feature film market,” says Keefe.

“The Producer Offset is an incentive delivered as a tax rebate, and this means that Australians are denied the transparency and information they need to judge which projects qualify for the offset and whether they provide quality to viewers,” she says. “Without the safeguard of public feedback, how do we know the offset is meeting the expectation of quality Australian content?”

“All incentives and investments must be judged on the outcomes – both in quantity and quality – for Australian viewers.”