Our industry has a proud history of fighting for Australian stories
In the 1960s there was no government support for an Australian film and television industry.
There was no Australian film and television industry.
In 1961 just one per cent of drama on Australian television was Australian. The other 99 per cent was foreign drama.
In response to a lack of Australian stories on Australian screens, the industry united under the banner “TV – Make it Australian”.
Australian actors, including cast members of Homicide and Division 4 march through the centre of Melbourne in 1970 to demand local content quotas.
With bipartisan support from the Gorton and Whitlam governments, an Australian film and television industry was created out of nothing.
The result of that campaign was an obligation on commercial television broadcasters to broadcast Australian stories and the creation of the Australian Film, Television and Radio School.
But 50 years later, we face similar challenges.