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PresidentJanSardi EmeritusPresidentDavidWilliamson
Level4,70PittStreetSydneyNSW2000
t.0293190339f.0292238933admin@awg.com.auwww.awg.com.auABN.38002563500
AustralianWriters’Guild
Submissiontothe
HouseStandingCommitteeonCommunicationsandtheArts
inquiryintotheAustralianfilmandtelevisionindustry:
FactorscontributingtothegrowthandsustainabilityoftheAustralianfilmandtelevision
industry.
31March2017
Thisdocumentisnotconfidential
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Introduction
TheAustralianWriters’Guild(AWG)protectsandpromoteswriter’srights–onscreen,on
stage and on air. On behalf of its members, the AWG works to improve professional
standards, conditions and remuneration, to protect and advance creative rights and to
promotetheAustralianculturalvoiceinallitsdiversity.
TheAWGappreciatestheHouseofRepresentativesStandingCommitteeon
CommunicationsandtheArts’interestintheAustralianfilmandtelevisionindustryandlook
forwardtoofferingourassistancewherepossible.
Duringyourinquiry,wewouldaskyoutoconsiderthefollowing:
1. preservingexistinglocalcontentquotasforscriptedtelevision;and
2. ensureanyfuturerefundoflicensingfeestothecommercialnetworkscomewithan
obligationtospenditonlocalscriptedcontent;and
3. introducingataxonnewstreamingservicestiedtolocalcontentquotasand
investmentinlocalscriptedtelevisionproduction;and
4. increasingtheproducer’soffsetfortelevisionfrom20%to40%;and
5. rejectingtheproposedamendmentstothecopyrightlawwhichthreatenthe
livelihoodsofAustralianwritersanddis-incetivizecreationandinnovation.
Wesincerelyhopethatthereisanappetiteforpositivechangewithinthiscurrent
governmentandthatthroughconsultationandcollaborationwecanworktowardsa
strongerandmoresustainablefilmandtelevisionindustryandallowallAustraliansengaged
inthefilmandtelevisionindustry(notjustproducerswhoarealreadywellsupportedby
ScreenAustraliaandthestatefundingbodies)tobettercompeteforinvestmentand
successontheglobalstage.
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Localcontentquotas
ScriptedDrama–tellingAustralianstories–isthemostexpensiveaudio-visualcontentto
producewithaveragebudgetsofAUD$1.1millionperhour,yetitisarguablythemost
importantcontenttosupportifwearetocompeteforinvestmentwithoverseasproducers
whohavethebenefitofamarketwhichsustainsitselfcommerciallywithlittletono
governmentinterventionandaccesstoproductionbudgets,populations,hundredsof
channelsandonlinestreamingservices,advancedtechnologyandinternetcapabilities
whichAustralianscanonlydreamof.
Thestarkrealityisthatwewillneverbecompetingonalevelplayingfieldcommercially
withtheinternationalEnglishlanguagecontentmarketwhichisdominatedbytheUnited
States.However,wecanregulateandlegislatetoensurethatAustralianstoriescontinueto
beapartoftheconversation.
Wecannotforgetthat,unlikethebehemothoftheUnitedStatesandmanyofourother
competitorsinthespace,theAustralianindustryisalsodrivenbyaculturalimperative
whichmustbeconsideredandsitabovemotivationsofmarketprotectionismorcommercial
considerationssuchasanincreasesinthelocationoffsetorPDVoffset,whichincentivise
ourcompetitorstocomehereandmaketheirstoriesattheexpenseofAustraliantaxpayers,
creativesandaudienceswhowilllosetheopportunitytoseethemselvesparticipateinthe
processandbereflectedonscreen.
ThereisnodoubtthattheAustralianpublicsupportstheexistingpolicyoflocalcontent
quotasbothasapolicyoptionandinitsviewinghabits.ScreenAustralia’s2016Screen
CurrencyReport(“theReport”)foundthatAustraliansexpressedapreferenceforAustralian
contentoverforeignscreencontent.Itwasfoundthatevenamongstthemostavidonline
viewers(whosubscribetostreamingserviceslikeNetflixandStan),Australiancontentwas
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favoured.Thishasbeenatrendformanyyearsnow,notwithstandingtheincreased
presenceofproviderswithhugeselectionsofAmerican,Britishandotherinternational
contentavailable.Withaudiencesmakingthischoice,itbecomesclearthatAustralians
placeanextremelyhighvalueonAustraliancontent.Australianshaveanappetiteforseeing
showscreatedinAustraliawhichreflecttheirexperienceoflivinginAustraliaandwhatit
meanstobeAustralian.Ifwecontinuetofeedthishunger,theindustrywillnotonlysurvive
butwillthrive.
TheAWGsubmitsthatcontentregulationintheformofenforceablelocalcontentquotas
forscriptedtelevisionisthecornerstonetopreservingqualityAustralianaudio-visual
contentonourscreens.Withoutsuchregulationtoachievetargetedoutcomes,itislikely
thatAustraliancontentwouldcompletelydisappearfromourscreens.
Itisawell-documentedfactthatAustralianbroadcastersandstreamingservicescanbuya
criticallyacclaimed,qualityscripteddramafromtheUnitedStatesthatcostAUD$6million
perhourforafractionofwhatthatshowcosttomakeandafractionofwhatitwouldcost
forthemtomakealocallyproducedscripteddrama.Inacommercialbroadcastcontext,it
wouldmakeabsolutelynosenseforabroadcastertospendoverAUD$13millionproducing
alocalscripteddramawhichwouldhavelittlesaleabilityoverseas,decliningadvertising
revenueandwouldbeunlikelytorecoupitscostsletaloneseeaprofit.
TheReportalsostatedthatallscreencontentunderAustraliancreativecontrolgenerated
AUD$2.6billionand20,158FTEjobs.Iflocalcontentquotasweretobereduced,thespace
these programs occupy in the market would inevitably be filled by cheaply purchased
internationalcontentoroffshoreproductionsattractedbythelocationorPDVoffsetwhich
maybringemploymentforsomeactors,directors,extras,crewandpostproductionpersonel
buthavenomandatoryrequirements toemployAustralianwritersorotherkeycreatives.
While this may have short term financial benefits for Australia’s commercial television
networks,longterm,thiswoulddecimatetheAustralianfilmandtelevisionindustry,havea
negativeimpactonemploymentandGDP.Theproductionspurchasedfromoverseaswould
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bemadebyforeignactors,writers,producers,directorsanddistributors,takingemployment
awayfromtheirAustraliancounterparts.Toaddsalttothewound,thoseseekingtoworkin
a thriving film and television industrywould be drawn away fromAustralian shores. This
wouldhaveanenormous impactonthe industryeconomically.Perhapsmoresignificantly
though,futuregenerationsofcreatorswillnothaveanindustryinwhichtoearntheirstripes.
Withoutthisinitialindustryexperience,itisunlikelytheywillbeabletogetmeaningfuljobs,
evenintheoffshorefilmandtelevisionindustries.
TherearealsosignificantfinancialbenefitsthatAustralianscriptedcontentbringstoother
Australian industrieswhichwould also be at risk if local content quotaswere relaxed or
removed.According to theReport, “Screen content attracts around230,000 international
touriststoAustraliaeachyear,drivinganestimated$725millionintourismexpenditure.”
TheAWGisalsoawarethatthefederalgovernmentrecentlyreturnedAUD$160millionin
licencefeestothecommercialnetworkswithoutimposinganyrequirementthattheyspend
thatmoneyonlocalscriptedcontent.TheAWGrecommendsthatanyfuturerefundtothe
commercialnetworkscomewithanobligationtospenditonlocalscriptedcontentto
ensurethatitdeliversonitsmandatetosupportthegrowthandsustainabilityofthescreen
industry.
TheAWGsupportsregulatoryparityfordigitalcontentthatisplatformneutral.Newforeign
entrantstothemarket,suchasNetflix,arenotboundbylocalcontentquotas.Theyenter
theAustralianmarketwithhugeexistingcontentlibraries,oftenacquiredcheaplyoratzero
marginalcost,inworldwidedistributiondeals.Asdiscussedabove,thereisnoeconomic
incentiveforthemtocommissionexpensivelocaltelevisiondramaortoacquireitnorare
theyoperatingonanyculturalimperativetocommissionoracquirethecontentofaforeign
country.Localnetworksandcontentprovidersareunderincreasedpressuretocompete
withtheseinternetstreamingserviceswhoarenotoperatingunderthesamerulesand
restrictionsastheyare.Apossiblesolutionthathasbeenproposedseveraltimesbyvarious
bodies,isthatinsteadofreducinglocalquotastodealwithinternationalstreaming
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competition,streamingservicesshouldhavesomelocalcontentrequirementsplacedon
them.Weunderstandthatthismayrequireagradualadditionofregulation,and
recommendthatmarketsharebeusedasaguideinintroducingregulationstoeach
platform.
Wewould also support the proposition that internet streaming services and newmarket
entrantsshouldbecompelledtoprovideagreatercontributiontotheAustralian filmand
televisionindustrythroughtheirtaxandGSTpaymentswhichcouldbeputtowardsfinancing
localproductionofscripteddramaandensurethattheindustrycouldcontinuetogrow.It
would also ensure streaming services make a contribution to the market that they are
currentlyexploitingandexploitingwellwitha2016reportfromRoyMorganstatingthatover
5millionAustraliansarenowsubscriberstoNetflixand891,000Australianssubscribingto
STAN.Withbaselevelsubscriptionscosting$8.99permonthand$10permonthrespectively
thereisasignificantrevenuebasetodrawfrom.
The AWG recommends: Preserving existing local content quotas for scripted television
acrossallgenres,ensuringanyfuturerefundoflicensingfeestothecommercialnetworks
comewithanobligationtospenditonlocalscriptedcontentandintroducingataxonnew
streamingservicestiedtolocalcontentquotasandinvestmentinlocalscriptedtelevision
production.
INCREASEPRODUCER’SOFFSETFORTELEVISION:
Underthecurrentsystem,Australianfeaturefilmsattractaproducer’soffsetof40%,which
isdoublewhatisofferedtoqualifyingtelevisionproductions.Weunderstandthisdisparity
wasoriginallyputinplacebecausethebudgetsforfeaturefilmwerecomparativelyhigher
thantelevisionandfeaturefilmfinanceharderforproducerstoraise.However,withcurrent
AustraliantelevisiondramabudgetssittingaroundAUD$1.1millionperhourandwithmany
seriesconsistingof6to12episodesperseasonthebudgetsarenowcomparable,andin
mostcases,exceedthebudgetsforAustralianfeaturefilms.
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Australiaisalsofacingintensecompetitionfortelevisionproductionsfromregional
neighbourssuchasNewZealandandMalaysiawhoeachhavea40%and30%offsetfor
televisionrespectively.ManylargeproductionsarenowchoosingtoshootinNewZealand
insteadofAustraliatotakeadvantageofthelargeroffsetandthisiscostingAustralians
opportunitiesforemployment,skilldevelopmentandcostingtheAustralianeconomy
moneyinlostrevenue.
Todate,weunderstandthattheproduceroffsethasbeenextremelyeffectiveindriving
high-quality,scripteddramaproductionwhichisindemandwithbothlocaland
internationalaudiencesand,withitsqualifyingrequirementsinsistingonthekeycreatives
suchaswritersbeingAustralian,ensuresprofessionalopportunitiesforAustralianwriters
andotherkeycreativesandguaranteesAustralianaudienceson-goingaccesstoAustralian
content.
ResearchbyPriceWaterhouseCoopers(“thePWCreport”)whichwascommissionedbythe
productionandpayTVindustriesestimatesthatoverAUD$100millionineconomicactivity
wouldbecreatediftheproducer’soffsetfortelevisionproductionwasdoubledandthatthe
costtothefederalgovernmentwouldonlybe"amaximumof$15.5millioninforegonetax
revenue."ThePWCreportestimatedthat360newtelevisionproductionjobswouldbe
createdandsaidAustralia'sinternationalcompetitivenessintheglobalscreenproduction
andfinanceindustrywouldbe"significantlyenhanced".
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TheAWGsupportstheincreaseintheproducer’soffsetfortelevisionoveranyincreasein
thelocationoffsetasthoseproductionsdonothavetosatisfythe"significantAustralian
contenttest"whichensuresthatAustralianstoriescancontinuetobetoldbyAustralian
writersforglobalaudiences.Thebeneficiariesofthelocationoffsetalsotendtobelarge,
wealthyUSproductioncompanieswhodon’tneedtheAustraliantaxpayerstopropthemup
andarenotcompelledto(anddonotchooseto)employasmanyAustraliansasproductions
compelledtomeetthesignificantAustraliancontenttestundertheproducer’soffsetfor
television.Further,thelocationoffsetonlyaddresseseconomicswhereasincreasingthe
producer’soffsetfortelevisionmeetseconomicandculturaldriversofgovernment
interventioninmarketsthatwouldotherwisebefree.
WhilstmanyofthefactorswhichmakeAustralianTVuncompetitiveinaglobalmarketare
beyondourcontroltherearemanysimplethingswecandowhichwilldramaticallyimprove
thequalityofourshowsandincreasethechancesofthembeingcriticallyandfinancially
successfulbothhereandabroad.
Ithaslongbeenestablishedthatthekeycontributingfactortothenewgoldenageof
televisionintheUnitedStates,whichismarkedbyqualityscripteddramareceivedwellby
criticsandaudiencesalike,isplacingcreativecontrolinthehandsofthewriter.Wehave
writersinAustraliawhohavedemonstrated,againstallodds,thattheycancompetewith
USwriterscreatingqualitycontentandfindingaudienceshereandoverseasfortheshows
thattheyhavecreated.RecentsuccessstoriessuchasPleaseLikeMe,TheCode,TheSlap
andRakeshowthatAustralianstoriesmatterandarecapableofcompetingwithforeign
projectsforinternationalinvestment.Increasingtheproducersoffsetfortelevisionand
insistingthatAustraliancontentmeetthesignificantAustraliancontenttestsensuresthat
thesewriterscankeepwritingqualityscriptsandcreatingAustraliancontentintothe
future.Thisisoneofthecheapestchangeswecanmakeanditwillhaveahugepositive
impact.
AWGrecommendation:Increasetheproducer’soffsetfortelevisionto40%
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CopyrightLaw
Forthefilmandtelevision industrytobesustainable, theremustbeasteadyandreliable
streamofincomeforcreators.Thisincomeenablescreatorstocontinuetoworkinthisoften
unpredictable industry. For creators, and writers in particular, royalties for use of their
copyrightmaterialmakeupasignificantportionofthissteadyandsustainable income.To
guaranteethefuturegrowthandsustainabilityoftheindustry,revenuestreamslikethismust
besafeguarded.
TheProductivityCommission recentlyproposedchanges to the intellectualproperty laws.
Theserecommendations, ifmade into law,wouldweaken intellectualproperty lawto the
pointofobscurity.TheproposedchangeswouldforcesmallAustraliancreativeindustriesto
competewithmammothglobal“tech”companies,whichwouldhaveshatteringeffectsofthe
Australianfilmandtelevisionindustry.Remunerationwouldgooffshore,insteadofintothe
handsofthosecreatingcontent.Suchchangeswouldallowcontenttobesharedonlinemore
easily,thetermofcopyrighttobeshorteneddramaticallyandinternationaldistributorscould
more easily exploit the Australianmarket for selfish, economic gain. These proposals for
intellectualpropertyandcopyrightlawwouldhaveastiflingeffectontheAustralianfilmand
televisionindustry.Withoutadequateremuneration,thereisnoincentivetocreateandthe
industrycannotfunctionanditcertainlycannotgrow.
Specifically, writingwould become a hobby instead of a legitimate profession of craft as
writerswouldnotbeabletosupportthemselveswhilsttheywritetheAustralianstoriesthat
havebecomesoentrenchedinourculture.KathandKim,SummerHeightsHigh,PleaseLike
Me, The Code, Rake, Shine, The Sapphires, The Castle, Priscilla: Queen of the Desert and
Muriel’sWeddingexistbecauseofthesafeguardsprotectingtheAustralianfilmandtelevision
industry,likecopyrightprotectionandfairremuneration.
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Additionally,the“fairuse”proposalputforwardbytheProductivityCommissionislikelyto
increasetheneedforcontentcreatorsandownerstolitigate.Thisisbecausethecourtwill
need to testwhatconstitutesa“fairuse”ofwork,onceanactionhasbeenbroughtbya
copyrightowner.TheAWGopposesanyrecommendationsthatwouldputsuchaburdenon
its members. Litigations would take a significant emotional and financial toll on writers.
Furthermore, fewpeoplehave thenecessary resources to sustaina litigation,especiallya
litigation against multi-billion dollar multi-national companies and especially Australian
writerswhoseaverageincomeislessthanAUD$40,000perannum.
In this timeofNetflix, Stan,YouTube,Google, Spotify, SoundCloudandamyriadofother
online content providers, the AWG sees a sustainable industry coming from increased
copyrightprotectionsandnotthereverse.
Copyright reform would be welcomed if it could play a meaningful role in ensuring fair
remuneration for copyright creators andwithstand today’s changing intellectual property
landscape.ImprovingintellectualpropertylawinAustraliawouldattractcreativeindustries,
innovativethinking,andcreatejobs.Thiswouldhaveasignificantsocialandeconomicbenefit
andwouldensureAustralianvoicescontinue tobeheard inAustraliaand throughout the
world.
AWG recommendation: reject the proposed amendments to the copyright law which
threatenthelivelihoodsofAustralianwritersanddis-incetivizecreationandinnovation.
Yourssincerely,
WendyHowell
Manager,IndustrialAffairs
AustralianWriters’Guild