O’byrne Urges Government To Save Australian Culture In Us Free Trade Agreement Michelle O'Byrne - Parliamentary Secretary (Communications)

Media Statement - 25 November 2003

Federal Member for Bass, Michelle O'Byrne MP today told Parliament that negotiations under the Free Trade Agreement with the United States must not include concessions that will see Australia's film, television and music industries jeopardised.

Ms O'Byrne said, "Local content rules have ensured the emergence and growth of the Australian film, television and music industries. The Howard Government is set to sign a Free Trade Agreement with the United States that will effectively eliminate local content rules and make these industries fight for their survival".

"These rules have allowed us to gain the experience and confidence to successfully showcase our unique Australian culture and diversity to the world".

Under the Free Trade Agreement, US negotiators are demanding that Australians give up the right to regulate for local content within future media delivery systems, which will become available as a result of digitalisation. This means that a proposed ‘standstill agreement' will allow current content rules to stand as they are while any new media would be subject to open market.

Ms O'Byrne said, "The fact that the Howard Government believes that by proposing a standstill agreement on local content rules, but allowing a free for all on emerging technology is a joke".

"This type of concession will mean that Australia will likely never see the emergence and worldwide success of home grown talent. It is local content rules that have ensured that programs like Kath and Kim and The Wiggles are made, despite the fact that it costs ten times as much to produce a local program than it takes to import an American program".

On Australian television the quota set out by the guidelines stipulates that there must be 55 per cent of Australian content between 6am and midday.