SPA CEO Reaffirms Need for Screen Policy Incentives to Better Support Documentary

SPA CEO Reaffirms Need for Screen Policy Incentives to Better Support Documentary – During the Dokpolitik: The State of Play for Policy and Advocacy session today at the Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC), Screen Producers Australia (SPA) CEO Matthew Deaner reiterated his call for the Government to ensure we have a competitive and fair screen framework, which includes lifting the 65-hour cap on documentary for access to the Producer Offset.

“There are several anomalies with Australia’s system of Screen Industry Incentives that are due for updating to recognise the changing nature of our industry, particularly the global competitive pressures affecting the screen production sector,”

– said SPA CEO Matthew Deaner.

“One glaring example is the 65-hour cap on documentaries removed in 2021 for scripted content, which we believe should also be removed for documentaries. There is also an anomaly in funding support to prevent feature documentaries from accessing the PDV rebate, which can significantly affect the levels of support these projects receive.

“This year, SPA, as part of its recent policy platform launch, is calling on the Government of our next Parliament to give Australian screen stories a fair go and address the creeping imbalance favouring international location work over homegrown screen stories.

“We will encourage the whole screen industry to get behind this effort by launching our Screen Industry Pledge today to seek support from all parties and candidates at the coming Federal Election.

“Our continuing priority is to secure local content rules for streaming platforms, ensuring Australian stories, including documentaries, remain available to audiences. However, we also need to broaden our commissioning base through additional funding for our national broadcasters and screen agency.

“Any additional funding for content on the ABC, SBS or NITV must be contingent on fair commissioning practices and address the increasingly aggressive licensing practices imported from global streamers into our industry,”

– said Mr Deaner.

“Another key plank of SPA’s 2025 Policy Platform is to build a fair and competitive screen framework that supports local production and maximises opportunities for Australian creators.

SPA’s Policy Platform for 2025 focuses on three key priorities:

Ensuring Australian audiences see and hear their own stories – This requires fair investment in local content from streaming platforms, strong protections for Australian IP, and a commitment to supporting cultural independence.
Strengthening our national screen bodies and public broadcasters – Strong public broadcasters underpin our screen industry, fuel creativity, and ensure diverse, high-quality storytelling remains accessible to all Australians.
Building a competitive and fair screen framework – We must establish policies that boost local production, reward Australian ownership, and address longstanding industry gaps to ensure continued growth and sustainability.

“In developing these priorities, SPA has consulted extensively with its members to ensure our industry’s key concerns are front and centre during the upcoming election campaign,”