Current attempts to improve diversity on our entertainment screens are ad hoc, with legislation needed to affect real change.
Analysis from Monash University found, despite numerous initiatives and research reports, diversity persisted as a problem both on and behind the screen in Australia.
Professor Olivia Khoo said the Australian screen industry had been historically dominated by networks that prioritised capturing a large, mainstream audience to ensure commercial success, with diversity seen as a secondary concern.
“The Australian community is diverse and it’s essential that our screen stories capture this. Authentic representation in our media not only strengthens our cultural identity, but also ensures that every Australian has the opportunity to see themselves reflected on screen,” Professor Khoo said.
She said the new report assessed existing incentive schemes that encouraged more diversity both in Australia and overseas and considered what more needed to be done to encourage systemic change.
Professor Khoo said the report outlined key diversity issues among population groups, including gender diversity where men continued to dominate the workforce overall (80 percent) and progress more consistently into technical or creative leadership roles, contributing to a serious gender pay gap.
She said the report considered existing State and Federal initiatives and policies aimed at promoting greater diversity and addressing inequality and under-representation.
“Researchers found many of these initiatives are often short-term, ad hoc and non-binding.
“Without being written into legislation, diversity requirements are impossible to enforce on an industry-wide basis and can easily change as policy priorities shift. The lack of durability of existing schemes means they fall short when it comes to tackling ingrained diversity issues in Australia’s screen industry over the long term,” Professor Khoo said.
She said the report also examined screen diversity initiatives from the UK, Europe and the US including minimum standards, funding bonuses and tax incentives and found Australia lagged behind international counterparts.
Professor Khoo said potential mechanisms for legislative and regulatory framework changes included:
- Adopting diversity criteria as a minimum standard.
- Providing a capped grant for productions that met diversity criteria.
- Adding diversity criteria to the existing producer tax offset.
- Providing a media diversity tax offset.
She said researchers concluded that any effective mechanisms would need to be legislated to advance diversity on Australian screens both in front of and behind the camera.
“Enhancing diversity on Australian screens is crucial not only for building cultural capital, but also for its lasting economic benefits, attracting new audiences and international collaboration.”
