Media Release

Screen Producers Australia (SPA) today welcomes the expected passage of the Communications Legislation Amendment (Australian Content Requirement for Subscription Video On Demand (Streaming) Services) Bill 2025 through the Australian Parliament - a landmark cultural reform more than a decade in the making.

The legislation, which is scheduled to pass the Senate this afternoon, introduces for the first time a national framework requiring streaming platforms to contribute consistently and meaningfully to the creation of Australian screen stories.

SPA CEO Matthew Deaner said today’s milestone reflects years of sustained advocacy, collaboration and commitment right across the screen industry.

“Today is a landmark day for Australian screen storytelling,” Mr Deaner said. “It finally puts in place a strong starting point for a regulatory framework that responds to the enormous changes that digital streaming platforms have made to our industry dynamics and viewing habits.

“For more than ten years, our members through SPA have worked both patiently and tirelessly together and with others parts of our industry to support the work needed to ensure that streaming platforms generating significant revenue from Australian subscribers also deliver a consistent and ongoing contribution to our industry and to our audiences, to ensure local Australian stories also find a place on their increasingly dominant services.

“From such a sustained period of advocacy to the delivery of a challenging and complex regulatory reform, there are many, many people to thank and acknowledge on behalf of our membership. Significant work has taken place across successive governments and after hundreds of meetings across years of consultation including eight official inquiries, generating thousands of pages of submissions, a sustained unifying #MakeitAustralian campaign, and hundreds of meetings."

“First of all, we extend our deep and sincere thanks to Minister for the Arts Tony Burke for his significant leadership in bringing this legislation into Parliament, together with the critical support of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Minister for Communications, Anika Wells and so many others within Cabinet and Government including Minister for Trade, Senator Don Farrell and Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator Penny Wong. 

Many thanks are also owing to Senator Sarah Hanson-Young who has been a passionate and long-standing supporter of our industry and in securing this regulation and passage of the bill today and the additional $50 million for children's and other content on the ABC.

We also acknowledge the important contribution made by now Attorney-General Michelle Rowland to the detailed consultation work in the previous Parliament that led to the final legislation model.

Over the years, many Parliamentarians have lent their support to our industry through meetings with SPA and members, attending and supporting these policies in inquiries, attendance at our various Screen Stories and #MakeItAustralian events and by speaking publicly in support of Australian screen stories. In particular, Allegra Spender MP, Zali Steggall MP, Senator Jacqui Lambie and other Independents have been important voices for our industry in the Australian Parliament.

Support for our industry has also been strong amongst Coalition members including Shadow Minister for the Arts, Julian Leeser MP and Shadow Minister for Communications Melissa McIntosh MP. Similarly, Nationals Leader David Littleproud MP and Dr Anne Webster MP have been champions of our industry, by recognising its regional impact. Notably in the last term of Parliament, former Nationals Senator Perin Davey was a generous and notable friend to our industry.

SPA also thanks the current co-chairs of the Parliamentary Friends of the Australian Screen Industry, Senator Karen Grogan and Pat Conaghan MP and all the members of that important group including previous co-chairs not already mentioned: Josh Burns MP, Ed Husic MP, former Senator Catryna Bilyk.

SPA extends particular thanks to:

• Ministerial and Parliamentary advisers who have returned phone calls, text messages and greatly assisted our advocacy behind the scenes.
   
• The Office for the Arts and departmental officers whose detailed policy work over many years have helped bring the final policy framework together.
   
• SPA Council members and advisors, particularly Presidents and Vice Presidents present and past, that have dedicated time and effort into backing our advocacy and providing advice and industry insights.
   
• Screen industry guilds and partners who helped build a coalition of support adn unity through events and delegations to help make the case for government action. Audiences and advocates who supported the case for stronger Australian storytelling on global platforms.

“While many of Australia’s famous faces have lent their support to our advocacy over many years, including the incredible Marta Dusseldorp who has walked the halls of Parliament House with us for years. I also pay particular tribute to the legendary Bryan Brown who has backed our campaign right from the start and been very public in his views across seminal speeches and interviews over many years. Our industry has relied on these advocates and many others in our membership and across the sector who have been prepared to speak openly in support of these reforms. By regularly turning up and speaking out, their collective advocacy has made an invaluable contribution to our screen industry." said Mr Deaner.

“Reaching this point has required persistence, commitment and dedication. While this is a watershed moment, we hope that it is also the beginning of a new dynamic phase of investment in Australian screen stories and that Australian audiences will be the beneficiaries of greater access to their own screen culture."

“Notwithstanding this landmark streaming legislation, we note that there remain many critically important areas for further action by the Government to put the screen industry on the firmer foundation it needs to be certain of a sustainable future. In regard to streaming regulation, some of these were identified in the unsuccessful House of Representatives amendments and others are noted in the SPA Policy Platform for 2025."

“We are pleased that one more 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 today we will rightly pause to note and celebrate this significant achievement, SPA’s advocacy will continue with renewed energy in the months and years ahead. My ambition for a globally successful Australian screen production sector has a big agenda to go,” Mr Deaner said.

Link to media image HERE.