Rudd should push back on US pressure amid streaming scuffle, opposition says

Australia’s embattled ambassador has found himself on the frontline of another scandal with the Trump administration.

Australia’s ambassador in Washington Kevin Rudd should push back on Trump administration pressure over proposed laws forcing streaming giants to invest in Australian content, the opposition says.

The Albanese government will this week introduce legislation compelling the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ to put 10 per cent of their local expenditure or 7.5 per cent of their domestic revenue toward Australian-made programming.

Lobbyists last week urged the Trump administration to protest the proposal, prompting two senior US officials, including Donald Trump’s chief trade envoy Jamieson Greer, to reach out to Mr Rudd.

Opposition frontbencher Jonathon Duniam said on Tuesday the former prime minister should tell the US “no”.

Australian ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd has had a turbulent relationship with US President Donald Trump. Picture: Martin Ollman / NewsWire

“Well, I think the government needs to do what’s in our nation’s interests and I think the legislation which does put an emphasis on Australian content and particularly when it comes to streaming platforms is a step in the right direction,” Senator Duniam said.

“There are some questions that remain unanswered in terms of does it comply with trade obligations and the agreements we have with the United States in particular.

“But at the end of the day, standing up for what’s right for our country, for our content makers, for film producers, actors and the rest of the people involved should not be at odds with being able to maintain a strong relationship with the United States.

“And this is where Kevin Rudd’s fine skills we’ve seen on display in the past should come to the fore.

“He should be able to tell the United States: ‘No, this is not just against you, this is us doing what’s right for our country, and we can have a bit of a two-way street.’”

The laws would impose similar requirements to those that exist on free-to-air broadcasters.

Labor shelved them in May but revived them amid calls for support from Australia’s screen industry.

Originally published as Rudd should push back on US pressure amid streaming scuffle, opposition says