Warning: US/Aussie Free Trade Proposal Will Harm Aussie Culture

Cultural leaders in Australia are warning that a proposed free trade agreement with the US will impinge on Australia’s home-grown culture. “The proposed deal caps the amount of local content at existing levels of 55 per cent on free-to-air commercial television and 25 per cent for commercial radio, and at 10 per cent on pay TV. If the government reduces these content levels, they cannot be raised again. The deal also prevents the government from regulating local content levels for new media without consulting the US, which can challenge any proposed changes.”