By AIDAN KNIGHT
THE federal government has announced a variety of legislation into the realm of streaming services and online subscriptions, aimed at saving Australians money, and preserving the local film industry.
Starting this year, under laws passed in Parliament late 2025, streaming giants possessing excess of one million subscribers in Australia are required to invest compulsory amounts into Australian programs – films or series.
Titled the Communications Legislation Amendment Bill, the content requirement dictates that services that fall under the criteria must spend at last 10 per cent of their total (content) expenditure, or 7.5 per cent of overall revenue, within Australia.
This means people may see more content filmed within the Latrobe Valley, such as the AACTA award nominated Netflix series Videoland, which was filmed in Moe, and rumoured to return for a second season. Liam Neeson also made headlines in 2024 when appearing among the trees of Walhalla to film the sequel to action flick Ice Road.
This increased production activity has tangible flow-on effects for regional communities.
Film and television shoots typically inject money into local economies through accommodation bookings, catering contracts, equipment hire, location fees and the use of local trades and services – not all that different from the economic benefit of the Erin Paterson trial in Morwell last year.
Cafés, supermarkets, hotels and short-stay providers often see a spike in business during production periods, while residents are employed as extras, drivers, builders, cleaners and production assistants. Industry bodies have long argued that regional filming not only supports short-term spending, but also promotes tourism by showcasing towns and landscapes to national and international audiences.
The reforms aim to ensure Aussies see Australian stories on big screens, as well as traditional television, and support jobs in the local screen industry. The legislation came into effect from January 1 this year.
As Australian content rules are introduced, the government is also targeting the other end of the digital entertainment equation: consumer protections in the subscription economy. In November 2025, the federal government reached agreement with states and territories on reforms to ban unfair trading practices, including subscription traps and hidden fees that cost households money and time.
Under the proposed reforms, businesses would be required to clearly set out subscription terms before sign-up, warn customers before free trials roll over into paid plans, ensure cancellation processes are at least as simple as joining, and display unavoidable fees upfront rather than at the final stage of payment.
Government officials say the changes are aimed at restoring fairness and transparency in consumer markets. Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury Andrew Leigh said too many Australians were being locked into ongoing payments simply because cancelling a service was more difficult than signing up.
Research underpinning the reforms estimates subscription traps cost Australians around $46 million each year, largely through avoidable charges tied to hidden fees and deliberately complex cancellation processes.
The federal government is expected to begin consultations on draft legislation in early 2026, with the new unfair trading practices protections intended to be legislated later in the year.
Taken together, the subscription reforms and new Australian content requirements mark a two-pronged shift in the digital media landscape – boosting local screen production while curbing online practices that disadvantage consumers.
