SPA Calls for Continued Reform to Secure Sustainable Future for Australian Documentary at AIDC 2026 – Screen Producers Australia (SPA) has called for continued reform to ensure the National Cultural Policy’s commitment to the priority genres including documentary is fully realised, following today’s Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC) panel, State of Play: Sector Sustainability in 2026 and Beyond, featuring SPA CEO Matthew Deaner.
Mr Deaner told delegates that the past year has seen important progress but embedding it will determine whether documentary producers experience genuine structural change.
“The National Cultural Policy stands as a clear commitment to supporting Australia’s priority genres, including documentary,”
– Mr Deaner said.
“The introduction of Australian content obligations for streaming services is a significant step toward honouring that commitment. For the first time, global streaming platforms operating in Australia are required to invest in local storytelling”.
“However, the real test will be whether the streaming framework translate into genuine commissioning activity for independent producers, including documentary makers Whilst the intent of the reform is clear, its impact will depend on how it is delivered in practice, especially in the absence of a required genre mix.”
Mr Deaner said SPA would remain closely engaged to ensure the regulatory settings result in tangible outcomes for documentary production businesses.
He also noted improvements to commissioning settings that directly impact documentary production.
“Documentary is central to how Australians understand themselves and the world around them,”
– he said.
“The increase to the minimum licence fee for television documentaries is also an important step. It recognises the rising costs faced by documentary producers and represents a meaningful uplift to the minimum standards producers can expect when bringing these stories to screen.”
“As new programs are commissioned it will be essential that they are structured on fair and sustainable terms, including appropriate rights retention, so producers are able to build viable businesses over time.”
However, Mr Deaner said further reform remains essential.
“Lifting the 65-hour cap on documentary access to the Producer Offset remains a priority,”
– he said.
“The cap is an outdated constraint that limits the ability of documentary producers to grow sustainable slates and respond to audience demand. If we are serious about sector sustainability, documentary must be treated equitably within our screen incentives framework.”
“This should also include access to the Post, Digital and Visual Effects (PDV) Offset for feature documentaries, without which Australia will continue to lose this work to other territories.”
“We know documentary-makers often need to work with other jurisdictions, and so reform to Australia’s co-production arrangements will be critical to enabling great work with a global outlook.”
“For example, the formal co-production arrangement with Canada is over 20 years old and reflects realities about screen production that no longer exist. Meanwhile our attempts for renewed co-production arrangements with the UK have not progressed since announcements made in 2021.”
“Well-funded screen agencies – both at a federal and a state and territory level – as well as public broadcasters are critical to a well-functioning independent screen ecosystem, including for documentaries. Increased and stable funding for these bodies will be important to the ability of documentary-makers to plan, develop and produce great work.”
“Documentary-makers rely on a variety of channels for distribution of their projects, and the aligning the treatment of TV and feature film under the offset system would relieve unnecessary financial strain in documentary production.”
Mr Deaner said the discussion at AIDC reinforced that sustained reform, not isolated measures, will determine the future strength of the documentary sector.
“Progress over the past year is encouraging, but structural settings must continue to evolve if Australian documentary is to thrive in 2026 and beyond,”
– he said.
Media Release – SPA
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SPA Calls for Continued Reform to Secure Sustainable Future for Australian Documentary at AIDC 2026
