THE AUSTRALIAN FILM INDUSTRY

The French and Italian film industries thrive because they are protected species.

Australia used to have a strong television commercial production industry by demanding that all ads shown on Australian television be shot by Australian crews. 

This led to a thriving business, with many American ads being shot by Australian crews just so that they could show their ads Australia, (Palmolive Soap among others).

Since we stopped demanding this the industry has died. 

Australia could strengthen its film industry by demanding that 35% of all theatre screening slots be filled by Australian-made films.

Whilst such a socialist directive would cause the large distributors to complain, it would only be short term.

A revitalised industry, with a guaranteed stage, would soon grow to produce product worthy of export. The complaining distributors would make export profits.

In the past, great Australian films have flopped at the box office because the American-owned distributors gave wide release to mass-marketed Block Busters on the same day.

The playing field was never level. As the French and Italians say, “Why should it be anyway?”

This was a submission to The Rudd Gvt's Australia Summit