Anthony Albanese unveils new national cultural policy for Australia

Anthony Albanese has been rubbing shoulders with Australian entertainment legends at an important event.

Australian singer-songwriter Missy Higgins was among the local entertainment stars to attend the launch of Labor’s new cultural policy. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

Big names in the arts and entertainment sectors have turned out to watch Anthony Albanese unveil a new national cultural policy for Australia.

Singer-songwriter Missy Higgins and actor Rachel Griffiths were among the local stars who gathered at The Esplanade Hotel – better known as The Espy – in the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda on Monday.

Higgins played piano and sung for the audience after the Prime Minister and Arts Minister Tony Burke announced the $286 million “Revive” policy.

With the funding to be rolled out over four years, the revamp of Australia’s arts, entertainment and cultural sector will aim to put Indigenous people at the forefront and ensure more investment in local talent.

The policy centres on the establishment of Creative Australia as the federal government’s peak arts investment and advisory body, which will be governed by the existing Australia Council.

Singer-songwriter Missy Higgins performed at the policy launch. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was photographed with Higgins at The Espy. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

Within Creative Australia will be carve outs for a First Nations body, a dedicated music body, a dedicated writers’ body and a workplace relations body for creatives.

Labor has said funding decisions will be made on the basis of artistic merit and will be at arm’s length from the government.

Launching the Revive policy at The Espy, Mr Albanese said the creative sector “cannot be left simply to those who can afford to do it”.

“Arts jobs are real jobs. It is an important part of our economy,” he said.

“It’s important to recognise that, but it’s also important, I think, to lift yourself above the usual economic debate. This is about our soul. This is about our identity.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attends the launch of Labor national cultural policy at The esplanade Hotel in St Kilda. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

Arts Minister Tony Burke has announced legislation for local content quotas for streaming services. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

Mr Albanese told a packed audience “arts jobs are real jobs”. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

Actress Rachel Griffiths was in attendance at the star-studded event in Melbourne. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

Under the policy, streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime will have to implement local content quotas to put revenue back into the Australian industry, but no figure has been agreed upon yet.

Mr Burke said legislation would be introduced to parliament in the second half of this year to pave the way for Australian content obligations to apply to streaming companies from July 1 2024.

“We have a situation now that, if you’re watching the TV, and the signal is coming through your aerial, there’s a guarantee of Australian content,” he said.

“But if the signal’s coming through the internet, there is no guarantee at at all.”

Mr Albanese says ‘arts jobs are real jobs’. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

The local film and television industry wants a 20 per cent quota, but the government will consult widely over the next six months with streaming giants and industry to find a solution.

The streaming market grew nearly 50 per cent in Australia in 2021, with estimated total earnings exceeding $2.4 billion.

However, unlike free-to-air and subscription TV, streaming services have not been required to make Australian content.

Originally published as Anthony Albanese unveils new national cultural policy for Australia