The Federal Government will this week introduce landmark legislation requiring global streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video to invest a portion of their Australian revenue into locally made film and television content.
Under the proposed law, streamers with more than one million Australian subscribers will need to allocate at least 10 per cent of their local spend—or 7.5 per cent of revenue—toward new Australian drama, children’s, documentary, arts and educational programming. It’s the first time the booming online entertainment sector will face formal Australian-content obligations, bringing them into line with long-standing quotas that already apply to free-to-air broadcasters.
The move aims to secure Australia’s creative future by ensuring local stories continue to be told on the platforms dominating household screens. It also promises a steadier pipeline of work for Australian writers, directors, actors and crew who have faced a volatile market as international streamers increasingly dominate viewing habits.
Importantly, there’s already proof that Australian storytelling can thrive in the global streaming era. Netflix’s Boy Swallows Universe, based on Trent Dalton’s bestselling Brisbane novel, ranked in the platform’s global top five and showcased authentic Australian character and landscape. Stan’s Bump, one of the platform’s first home-grown hits, became a multi-season success and sold internationally. Amazon Prime’s The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, led by Sigourney Weaver, demonstrated that Australian-produced drama can deliver cinematic quality and international appeal.
And of course, there’s Bluey—the home-grown ABC and BBC Studios co-production that has become Australia’s most beloved global export, topping U.S. streaming charts and proving that uniquely Australian content can connect with audiences everywhere.
If executed well, this new policy could mark the start of a golden era for Australian storytelling. Mandates alone won’t guarantee quality—but by pairing creative freedom with secure investment, Australia’s screen sector can continue producing stories that are culturally rich, commercially successful, and unmistakably our own.
