Labor's streaming quotas face delays amid Trump and free trade deal concerns
The government has confirmed that its long-awaited streaming regulation has hit further delays as it continues to assess whether the laws could run afoul of Australia's free trade deal with the United States.
Labor’s plans to introduce local content quotas for the world’s largest streaming services face further delays as the government grapples with Donald Trump's return to the White House and considers whether the laws comply with Australia’s free trade deal with the United States.
Arts Minister Tony Burke first announced plans for the quotas in January last year, as part of its national cultural policy, Revive, which the government hopes will bring streamers including Netflix and Amazon Prime Video in closer alignment with broadcasters on local content obligations.
In a meeting of the Labor caucus on Tuesday, Burke confirmed the government is assessing whether the regulation could “run up against” Australia’s free trade deal with the US, according to a briefing by a government spokesperson.
Burke also confirmed the US election had further complicated the plans, echoing comments he gave to a private industry dinner last month, first reported by Capital Brief, raising the spectre of further challenges advancing the regulation with a Donald Trump White House.
