A decade of advocacy reaches a milestone, with local quotas on streaming platforms becoming Australian law.
- Streamers with over 1 million subscribers will need to invest at least 10% of their total Australian spend – or 7.5% of their revenue – in new local drama, children’s, documentary, arts and educational programs.
- ABC will receive a further $50 million in funding for Australian-made children’s and drama content.
The Communications (Australian Content Requirement for Subscription Video-on-Demand (Streaming) Services) Amendment Legislation 2025 is expected to be passed by the Senate this afternoon – a milestone for the screen industry.
The legislation introduces a national framework for the first time that requires streaming platforms to consistently and meaningfully contribute to the creation of Australian screen stories.
Earlier today, the Greens also secured another $50 million in funding for the ABC to invest in Australian-made children’s and drama content.
Greens communications spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said: “Today we are introducing significant reform for our screen industry. Major tech companies such as Netflix, Amazon and Disney will now be regulated and required to invest in local Australian stories.
“This is a win for our local screen industry and the incredible storytellers we have in Australia. It’s also a win for Australian audiences who deserve to see themselves and their communities reflected on our screens.
“As part of our negotiations, the Greens have secured an additional $50 million for the ABC to invest in local Australian stories, including children’s programming. This funding is about giving Australian children the opportunity to see themselves and hear their own voices on their screen.”
Screen Producers Australia announces years of advocacy and involvement within the screen industry.
SPA CEO Matthew Deaner said: “Today is a milestone for Australian screen storytelling, finally creating a strong starting point for a regulatory framework that responds to the massive changes digital streaming platforms have made to the dynamics and viewing habits of our industry.
“For more than a decade, our members through SPA have worked both patiently and tirelessly and with other parts of our industry to support the work needed to ensure that streaming platforms that generate significant revenue from Australian subscribers also make a consistent and ongoing contribution to our industry and to our audiences, to ensure that local Australian stories also find a place in their increasingly dominant services.”
“From such a sustained period of advocacy to delivering challenging and complex regulatory reform, there are many people to thank and recognize on behalf of our membership. Significant work has taken place between successive governments and following hundreds of meetings over years of consultation, including eight official inquiries, which generated thousands of pages of submissions, an ongoing unifying #MakeitAustralian campaign and hundreds of meetings.
“First and foremost, we express our deep and sincere gratitude to Arts Minister Tony Burke for his significant leadership in bringing this legislation to Parliament, along with the critical support of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Communications Minister Anika Wells and so many others within Cabinet and Government, including Trade Minister Senator Don Farrell and Foreign Affairs Minister Senator Penny Wong.
“Many thanks are also due to Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, who has been a passionate supporter of our industry for many years and who secured this regulation and the passage of the bill today, as well as the additional $50 million for children’s and other content on the ABC.
“We also recognize the important contribution now made by Attorney-General Michelle Rowland to the detailed consultation work in the previous parliament that led to the final legislative model.
“Over the years, many parliamentarians have supported our sector through meetings with SPA and members, attending and supporting this policy at inquiries, attending our various Screen Stories and #MakeItAustralian events and speaking publicly in support of Australian screen stories. In particular, MP Allegra Spender, MP Zali Steggall, Senator Jacqui Lambie and other independents have been important voices for our sector in the Australian Parliament.
“Support for our sector has also been strong among Coalition members, including the Shadow Minister for the Arts, Julian Leeser MP and the Shadow Minister for Communications Melissa McIntosh, an MP. Similarly, Nationals Leader David Littleproud MP and Dr Anne Webster MP have been champions of our industry, recognizing its regional impact. Particularly during the last term of Parliament, former Nationals Senator Perin Davey was a generous and remarkable friend of our industry.
“SPA would also like to thank the current co-chairs of the Parliamentary Friends of the Australian Screen Industry, Senator Karen Grogan and Pat Conaghan MP and all members of that important group, including previous co-chairs not yet named: Josh Burns MP, Ed Husic MP, former Senator Catryna Bilyk.”
SPA is mainly due to:
Ministerial and parliamentary advisors who have answered calls and text messages and greatly assisted our advocacy efforts behind the scenes.
The Office of the Arts and department officials whose detailed policy work over many years helped bring together the final policy framework.
SPA Board members and advisors, especially current and past presidents and vice presidents, who have dedicated time and effort to supporting our advocacy and providing industry advice and insights.
Check out guilds and industry partners who have helped build a coalition of support and unity through events and delegations to advocate for government action. Audiences and advocates who supported the case for stronger Australian stories on global platforms.
“While many of Australia’s famous faces have supported our advocacy for many years, including the incredible Marta Dusseldorp who walked the halls of Parliament House with us for years, I also pay special tribute to the legendary Bryan Brown who has supported our campaign from its inception and has very publicly stated his views in groundbreaking speeches and interviews for many years. Our industry has relied on these advocates and many others in our membership and across the sector who are willing to speak openly in support by regularly showing up and speaking out their collective advocacy has made an invaluable contribution to our screen industry,” said Matthew Deaner.
“Reaching this point has required perseverance, dedication and commitment. While this is a turning point, we hope it is also the start of a new dynamic phase of investment in Australian screen storytelling and that Australian audiences will be the beneficiaries of greater access to their own screen culture.”
“Despite this groundbreaking streaming legislation, we note that there are still many critical areas for further action by the government to put the screen industry on a firmer footing to ensure a sustainable future. In relation to streaming regulation, some of these were identified in the failed House of Representatives amendments and others are listed in the 2025 SPA Policy Platform.
“We are pleased that another of these measures, the additional $50 million for children’s and other content on the ABC, has been secured by Senator Sarah Hanson-Young as part of the Senate negotiations for passage of the streaming bill.
“While we will rightly pause today to note and celebrate this important achievement, SPA’s advocacy will continue with renewed vigor in the months and years to come. My ambition for a globally successful Australian screen manufacturing sector has a big agenda ahead of it,” said Deaner.
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