Announcement date
6 November 2025
Link to announcement
Communications Legislation Amendment (Australian Content Requirement for Subscription Video On Demand (Streaming) Services) Bill 2025 – Parliament of Australia
Problem being addressed
In the National Cultural Policy, Revive the Australian Government reiterates the 2022 and 2025 election commitment to introduce requirements for Australian screen content on streaming services to ensure continued access to local stories and content. Although subscription video on demand (SVOD) services is currently investing in Australian content, there is no guarantee this level of investment will be maintained.
Proposal
The Impact Analysis (IA) considers two options to address investment in Australian content:
Option 1: (status quo): Continue with current voluntary reporting from streaming services with no requirement to invest in local Australian content. Retaining the existing regulatory framework for commercial and subscription broadcasters in their current form.
Option 2: A hybrid model that compels large streaming services to spend at least 10 percent of their total program expenditure (including global content but excluding news and sport) in Australia on new Australian commissions. Alternatively, streaming services may choose an optional revenue obligation equivalent to 7.5 per cent of revenue.
Assessed Impact Analysis outcome
Adequate
Assessment comments
While the IA provides a clear summary of the consultation and rationale for government intervention, to be considered 'good practice' as per the Australian Government Guide to Policy Impact Analysis, the IA would have benefitted from further articulation of how the problem and options impact each of the different stakeholders. The implementation section could have been improved by a more detailed breakdown of the approach and potential risks.
Regulatory burden
The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts estimates that under the first four years of the preferred option leading up to the statutory review, the estimated administrative costs to the anticipated affected streaming services is $1.19M. Following the review, the ongoing administrative cost burden is calculated as $1.16M per year. The average over ten years is $1.17M per year.