Who Really Benefits from Taxpayer-Funded Australian Drama?
Australia’s drama industry relies heavily on taxpayer funding, yet much of this content is locked behind streaming paywalls, forcing audiences to pay for multiple subscriptions. While international streaming platforms and global productions receive a growing share of government subsidies, local viewers are left questioning: Is taxpayer money truly supporting Australian storytelling, or is it fueling global media giants?
To unpack this issue, Professor Anna Potter from Queensland University of Technology’s School of Communication joined us to discuss the ethics, accessibility, and impact of taxpayer-funded drama in Australia. With production costs rising and the availability of local content shrinking, she explores what policy changes are needed to ensure Australian audiences can access the stories they help fund.
Article on The Conversation: Australia’s drama dilemma: how taxpayers foot the bill for content that ends up locked behind paywalls
