Netflix and Support Act announce $1 million for arts and entertainment workers

While thousands of Australians call on the government to support arts and entertainment workers, Netflix has picked up the slack.

Netflix has announced a million-dollar donation to help Australia’s hard-hit arts and entertainment industry workers as a petition calling on the government to inject cash into the sector begins racking up signatures.

Netflix made the announcement Thursday morning in a partnership with the charity Support Act, which helps arts and entertainment industry workers during times of crisis (for instance when a global pandemic brings a sudden halt to all live music, theatre, and fun).

The impact of COVID has been tough for many sectors, including Aussie TV and film freelancers who may not be eligible for other forms of support. That’s why we’re proud to be partnering with @SupportAct on a Covid-19 Film and TV Emergency Relief Fund. https://t.co/pkzgiku44t

— Netflix ANZ (@NetflixANZ) June 11, 2020

The COVID-19 Film and TV Emergency Relief Fund is designed to help workers in the television and film industry after the pandemic closed down productions.

The fund is expected to benefit up to 1000 workers with a one-time payment of $1000.

Netflix also donated funds to assist Support Act’s ongoing work.

The Netflix donation is more than half the total amount the charity raised last financial year.

“Support Act recognises the huge impact that COVID-19 has had on production personnel across all of the creative industries, and the strong alignment that exists between the music industry and the Screen Arts,” the charity’s CEO Clive Miller said.

“We congratulate Netflix on this initiative and we welcome the opportunity to partner with them to help deliver these funds at this extraordinary time of need.”

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Many of us turned to Netflix as the COVID-19 pandemic forced us inside, and now the company is giving back a little too. Picture: Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP

Netflix Australian content director Myleeta Aga said the company was “grateful to be able to work with Support Act to establish the Film and TV Emergency Relief Fund”.

“We want to help those in the Australian screen industry who most need financial assistance, especially casual workers hit by the current crisis.”

Applications for the fund open on Monday.

But thousands of Australians think it shouldn’t be left up to streaming services and charities to save the arts.

#BREAKING there is now an official petition on the Parliament House website calling for support for the arts and entertainment sector. It was submitted by Chloe Dallimore and went live today. No one should be left behind.https://t.co/NKVO5zN7ms#arts #livemusic #festivals

— Tony Burke (@Tony_Burke) June 10, 2020

A petition calling on the Government to support arts and entertainment workers is surging towards 10,000 signatures in less than a day.

“It was the first sector to be hit, when gatherings of 500 people or more were banned, and is likely to be one of the last sectors to be released from restrictions,” organiser Chloe Dallimore wrote in her submission.

She called on the Government to act now, accusing it of failing to do so for years.

“After years of cuts and neglect, the Government has failed to act to save the arts and entertainment sector. Although JobKeeper will help some, there are major gaps in coverage for freelancers and contractors which the Government has failed to address. These gaps affect the vast majority of artists and a very significant number of technical workers,” Ms Dallimore wrote.

Netflix has helped set up a million-dollar support fund for arts and entertainment workers. Thousands want the Government to do something too. Picture: Oliver Douliery/AFP

Just because the petition is live doesn’t mean it will go anywhere though. It’s one of 60 currently open for signatures.

It’s by far the most popular however, and sticks out like a sore thumb among other petitions on the parliament’s website.

One calling for the Government to address “The Lack of Ideological Diversity in Universities” has a lonely sole signatory, alongside other petitions, including one to “Investigate and re-evaluate 5G installation”.

Several petitions all call for the same thing: the abolishment of the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students (LANTITE) that makes sure students can read and write before they become teachers.

One woman has posted two petitions to “stop climate change hoax” and “remove Medicare & welfare allowances on all on Centerlink [sic]”, but so far hasn’t attracted any support for her causes.