Government to introduce local content obligation for streaming services with more than 1 million subscribers

Government to Introduce Local Content Obligation for Streaming Services

Nearly 18 months after its initial deadline, the Federal Government is advancing legislation to impose Australian content requirements on streaming platforms. This new law will target streaming services with more than one million Australian subscribers.

Key Requirements

Streaming services must allocate at least 10% of their total Australian expenditure or 7.5% of their revenue to new local drama, children’s programming, documentaries, arts, and educational content.

Background and Timeline

Arts Minister Tony Burke first set a July 1, 2024 deadline for these obligations in the National Cultural Policy. This announcement initiated extensive consultations involving streamers, free-to-air broadcasters, and industry guilds.

By late 2023, the government sought industry feedback on two compliance models: one revenue-based and another expenditure-based. Although a Senate committee’s interim report urged prioritizing the introduction of quotas, the deadline passed without enactment.

Factors Affecting the Delay

The delay was influenced largely by concerns regarding compliance with the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA).

Recent Developments

“The issue was brought into the spotlight last week when independent MP Zali Steggall presented the Change.org ‘Save Australian Stories’ petition in parliament.”

Summary

The government is progressing with a long-delayed mandate requiring major streaming services to invest significantly in Australian-produced content, balancing cultural policy goals and trade agreement concerns.

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IF Magazine — 2025-11-04