Uncertainly Over Australian Streamer Regulation “Causing Great Angst,” Claims Producers Body

deadline.com:

Last week, Australia‘s screen industries were celebrating an increase in the country’s Location Offset scheme, but this week “great angst” is washing through the production community.

That’s according to Screen Producers Australia CEO Matthew Deaner, who has warned that while the government keeps overdue streaming regulation on hold, Australia is “on track to develop more as a service provider for Hollywood productions.” “While the recent confirmation of the increase in Australia’s Location Offset that benefits non-Australian projects was great news, the absence of commensurate certainty for Australia’s home-grown industry and Australian projects through streaming regulation is now causing great angst in our industry,” said Deaner.

The SPA supported raising the Location Offset rebate for TV and film productions shooting in the country from the previous 16.5% to 30%, which will likely trigger more overseas investment, and the service work it could bring, but has been vocally critical of both government and the streamers.

Streaming regulation, which will dictate how much of their local revenues streamers have to spend on local Australian content, was due to come in on July 1 as part of the national cultural policy Revive, but the deadline came and went with no announcement on the terms. “Over the past week, I’ve been contacted by members around Australia who are concerned about where our industry now stands,” said Deaner, whose guild represents more than 500 local producers. “Without a counterbalance in local works and robust commissioning, the changes that passed Parliament last week will mean that the Australian screen sector is on track to develop more as a service provider for Hollywood productions, who are