“Ours is an industry that’s ready to go”

Industry groups will today launch the next stage of the Make it Australian campaign.

The Australian Directors’ Guild, Australian Writers’ Guild, the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance and Screen Producers Australia, and members of the Australian Screen Industry Group will hold an online event at 12:30pm today via Zoom.

The Make it Australian campaign is fighting for local storytelling with Australian voices.

Speaking at the event are Hoodlum Chief Content Office Tracey Vieira , writer-director Mithila Gupta, and Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell.

The event will issue a direct message to the Prime Minister, which calls for:

• Return of regulation for commercial broadcast and subscription television to provide certainty to the 2021 production market, and to safeguard the 15,000 jobs at risk from the current suspension of the rules
• Considered transition to a new platform-neutral set of rules which ensures that Australians see Australian stories on all the platforms they are using (eg, Netflix, Amazon, Stan)
• Modernised, competitive tax offsets to incentivise private investment
• Well-funded public broadcasters and screen agencies

“Australia faces generational challenges to get people back to work and rebuild businesses, and Australia’s world-leading screen industry is ready, with the right government settings, to do this and more,” said SPA CEO Matthew Deaner.

“For every famous face or household name there are thousands of people behind the scenes of the Australian screen industry whose crafts and skillsets cover the full range of enterprise and innovation, creative endeavours, technical mastery and logistical problem solving – building sets, stitching costumes, crunching numbers, feeding multitudes, and keeping everyone safe,” said MEAA Chief Executive Paul Murphy.

“Ours is an industry that’s ready to go, which stands to make a unique contribution to Australia’s future economy and provide sustainable employment for many thousands of Australians. Our ability to do this, and to keep telling the distinctive stories that Australians love, is dependent on forward-thinking and sustainable Government decision-making,” said Samantha Lang, ADG President.

“Australian screenwriters create the stories that our world-renowned industry is built on. Our sector contributes over $5bn in value-add to the Australian economy, while lifting our national spirit, captivating international audiences and enriching lives through storytelling,” said AWG CEO Jacqueline Elaine.

Wednesday, September 30, 12:30pm – 1:15pm
Via Zoom (Join here: meaa.zoom.us/j/92526711703)