Key Points
- After six months of consultation, Arts Minister Tony Burke is set to reveal the national cultural policy.
- The policy is expected to prioritise First Nations content, increased diversity and support for artists.
- It is also expected to include Australian quotas for multinational streaming services.
When Sachin Joab was growing up in the 1980s and 90s, the was limited, and opportunities for actors of colour were slim.
Over the years, he says diversity in creative industries has been "slowly improving", but now — with the announcement of a new national cultural policy — he is hopeful of real change.
Joab is pushing for diversity quotas in casting, and for Australian television to more accurately represent the country's multicultural society.
"You put on Aussie TV and you'll see the majority of the cast (is) Caucasian," he said.
"It's slowly improving with shows like Heartbreak High and so but still, the overwhelming majority of lead and main cast roles, they're still going to Caucasian actors.
"I was pushing for more equality in that range, rather than just ticking a diversity box and putting an actor of colour in there as a guest actor."
Joab, an Australian actor, played Ajay Kapoor in the Australian series Neighbours from 2011 to 2013, and has had roles in a number of other series including Conspiracy 365, Better Man and The Hunting.
He also appeared in the drama film Lion and played the lead role in the Sydney Theatre Company production of Disgraced, and has previously spoken out about lack of representation in the Australian film and television industry.
Joab said there is still a long way to go when it comes to diverse representation on screen.
"There's definitely potential there ... but I don't really think that has changed that much," he said.
"I've been trying for this change for over 15 years, and I know a lot of other actors of colour are trying as well."
Sachin Joab on his last day on Neighbours in 2013. Source: Supplied / Channel 10 / Digital Spy
"There's so much Aussie talent that leaves our shores and goes to America and England and Canada, even New Zealand," he said.
"And so for our government to invest in the screen industry here and try and bring more talent from overseas here and keep the Aussie talent remaining on our shores ... it's a wonderful thing."
A specific quota has not yet been set, but Joab said he would like to see 30 per cent of streaming revenue dedicated to Australian projects.
"I would say that 30 per cent would be reasonable given the sheer amount of money generated from American and British screen projects that are shot all over Australia," he said.
"The amount would fuel our Australian screen industry for our own Australian artists, who have comparatively always lost out."
What is the new policy?
On Monday 30 January, Arts Minister Tony Burke is set to , the first of its kind in a decade.
It comes after six months of consultation with creators and arts workers about the future of the industry.
According to the government, the plan is built around pillars of recognising and respecting First Nations stories, reflecting diversity, supporting artists, providing support across the spectrum of institutions, and ensuring Australian stories reach audiences both at home and abroad.
In order to broaden the reach of Australian content, the plan is expected to include Australian quotas for multinational streaming services.
Claire Pullen, executive director of the Australian Writers’ Guild, said quotas for Australian content would offer an opportunity to deliver more diverse content.
"The commitment to Australian screen quotas is obviously hugely important," she said.
"With more Australian content comes the ability to deliver more diversity."
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Screen Producers Australia CEO Matthew Deaner said without making changes, Australia's creative industries could be "left behind".
"If we haven't and we don't make those sorts of changes to what's happening towards our sector, we're going to be left behind and we will find that our cultural stories are supplanted by other nation's cultural stories," he said.
"The relative size and quantity of international stories will drown out and is drowning out Australian stories, so a cultural change like this or a policy change like this really is a game changer."
Mr Burke said the quotas would come into effect from July 2024.
"The days of there being no guarantee of Australian content on streaming services have to come to an end. And they come to an end on the first of July next year," he said.
"The days where you're there with a remote control, going through the menu, wondering why every option in front of you seems to be American, or from the UK, those days will be over and once again we'll get back to what we want."
