SAD DAY FOR AUSTRALIA’S SCREEN SECTOR

TONY BURKE MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS
MANAGER OF OPPOSITION BUSINESS
MEMBER FOR WATSON

MICHELLE ROWLAND MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS
MEMBER FOR GREENWAY


 

The cancellation of Neighbours is the end of an era for Australian broadcasting and a sad day for our local screen sector.

Production company Fremantle Media has today officially confirmed the show will end after 37 years on our TVs.

Neighbours has been an institution that has launched the careers of some of our biggest stars. It has provided valuable training and experience for writers, actors and behind-the-scenes crew for decades.

It’s also been a show that has strengthened creative and cultural ties between Australia and the UK.

Our thoughts are with the workers who have lost their jobs.

Today’s decision is a reminder that Australia needs a government with a plan for our screen sector, particularly scripted drama.

The Government should be extending local content obligations, not trying water them down.

The Government’s dithering – including its failure to introduce content obligations on streaming platforms – has undermined Australia’s screen sector.

If an Australian content obligation for streaming services was already in place would there have been a better outcome for Neighbours? Would it have found a new home, saving cast and crew the pain of these job losses?

THURSDAY, 3 MARCH 2021