Inclusion Riders In Australia’s Creative Sector
Whilst women have graced the silver screen for decades, it still stands that female actors hold the majority of dialogue in just over a fifth of all films. What’s even more disappointing is the fact that only 4% of major film directors are female. And in recent years these disappointing numbers have prompted actors to include ‘inclusion riders’ into their contracts with film studios.
If you are unfamiliar with the term, an inclusion rider means that actors are able to refer to clauses that require a minimum quota of minority groups on and off screen. But what does all this mean for our own creative industries here at home?
Australian legislation contains a unique exception to discrimination claims – “discrimination” is permitted if it will further the opportunities of traditionally disadvantaged groups.
So will inclusion riders be permitted in Australia?
We were joined by Monica Brierley, Associate at the Federal Court of Australia, to discuss the potential of these clauses to diversify Australia’s creative arts sector to find out.
