The Australian Writers’ Guild has submitted its response to the Streaming Services Reporting and Investment Scheme Discussion Paper, arguing that the minor reforms proposed by the Government are insufficient to lay the foundation for the internationally-competitive screen industry the Government claims to support.

The Guild has long supported the position that qualifying streaming platforms should invest 20 per cent of their Australian-sourced revenue in commissioning new Australian content.

AWG maintains the screen industry has waited years for firm Government action on the issue of streamer regulation, and the proposed rate of 5 per cent in the Discussion Paper is “feeble and disappointing.”

The Guild’s Executive Director, Claire Pullen, says, “We want to capitalise on the huge opportunities before us, to have Australia’s amazing content on screens all over the world and here at home. We produce some of the best content in the world. We want to watch it; audiences overseas love to watch it.

“The pandemic has seen us engaging with more content than ever before, but we need regulation that delivers fair competition and a foundation for our industry. It’s time for Government to be bold and show it backs the Aussie industry, and backs our jobs in the sector.

“We are confident there’s a bright future ahead with the right settings. Coasting on as we have been isn’t a path to anything but the slow death of our industry and sending those jobs overseas.”

AWG reiterated that policy conversation regarding these issues has been in train for a decade, and the need for meaningful regulatory action has been clear for many years.