4 years ago
WHY IS HOLLYWOOD MORE IMPORTANT THAN AUSTRALIAN FILM?
TONY BURKE MP
Funding film production in Australia creates jobs – and so Labor welcomes the government’s location offset announcement.
But what we don’t understand is this: why is the government more committed to supporting Hollywood than it is to supporting Australia’s own creative community?
Why do Hollywood blockbusters get $400 million when our own screen sector gets only $50 million?
Australia’s screen sector is hurting. Production has been hit hard by the coronavirus crisis, with thousands of people losing work. And like so many in the arts and entertainment industry, a large number of these workers are not eligible for the JobKeeper wage subsidy.
But not only has the government offered inadequate support for the sector – it’s actually added to the pain and uncertainty by suspending local content quotasfor new drama, documentary and children’s shows. And the government has refused to commit to bringing them back when the crisis is over.
Godzilla is great but what about Australian stories? Why is the government intent on having fewer Australian faces, voices and stories on our cinema and TV screens?
It took the government more than 100 days to announce a support package for Australia’s arts and entertainment sector.
But three weeks later, and artists and entertainers still have no idea how to access the funds.
While Scott Morrison and Paul Fletcher are off chasing their Hollywood headlines, Australia’s creative workers still don’t even know whether they are eligible to apply for grants or concessional loans.
This is typical of this government: the delivery never matches the announcement, the reality never matches the promise.
Australia’s arts and entertainment sector workers deserve better than this. They are the makers, keepers and producers of Australian stories, and they have helped us to get through this crisis
It took more than 100 days for the Morrison government to finally act on the desperate calls from the sector for help. How many more days will they have to wait to get the support they were promised?
But what we don’t understand is this: why is the government more committed to supporting Hollywood than it is to supporting Australia’s own creative community?
Why do Hollywood blockbusters get $400 million when our own screen sector gets only $50 million?
Australia’s screen sector is hurting. Production has been hit hard by the coronavirus crisis, with thousands of people losing work. And like so many in the arts and entertainment industry, a large number of these workers are not eligible for the JobKeeper wage subsidy.
But not only has the government offered inadequate support for the sector – it’s actually added to the pain and uncertainty by suspending local content quotasfor new drama, documentary and children’s shows. And the government has refused to commit to bringing them back when the crisis is over.
Godzilla is great but what about Australian stories? Why is the government intent on having fewer Australian faces, voices and stories on our cinema and TV screens?
It took the government more than 100 days to announce a support package for Australia’s arts and entertainment sector.
But three weeks later, and artists and entertainers still have no idea how to access the funds.
While Scott Morrison and Paul Fletcher are off chasing their Hollywood headlines, Australia’s creative workers still don’t even know whether they are eligible to apply for grants or concessional loans.
This is typical of this government: the delivery never matches the announcement, the reality never matches the promise.
Australia’s arts and entertainment sector workers deserve better than this. They are the makers, keepers and producers of Australian stories, and they have helped us to get through this crisis
It took more than 100 days for the Morrison government to finally act on the desperate calls from the sector for help. How many more days will they have to wait to get the support they were promised?