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Actors considering industrial action

Actors Equity Australia is stepping up its campaign against the federal government's plans to lift levels of foreign talent.

Actors Equity Australia is stepping up its campaign against the federal government’s plans to effectively lift levels of foreign talent.

It has sent ballots to members, calling for a vote on proposed industrial action. If approved, that could include boycotts and targeted strikes.

The government is seeking to drop the level of foreign finance required before productions can cast foreign actors. It is seeking a minimum of 20% finance, down from the current 30% level.

Equity director Simon Whipp has ruled out a full-scale strike, suggesting any action will be around individual productions.

”We’re anticipating the vast majority of productions will be prepared to negotiate with us,” he said.

The Screen Producers Association of Australia has argued in favour of the changes.

In July actors attended union meetings where actress Justine Clarke said, “The rules that we have now have assisted, supported and nurtured Australian performers and launched the international careers of all our wonderful big stars, whilst keeping us local actors in work and in hearty contribution to the rich cultural landscape of our country.”

Source: smh.com.au

5 Responses

  1. Am sure all the young cast currently on Home and Away will be vocally backing industrial action to protect their industry – whilst at the same time packing their bags and searching for the easiest way of getting a Green Card. It’s a bit hard to take Equity seriously.

  2. Overseas actors are only gonna be employed if they are bringing in money, which is a good thing Or if they are better than the local talent, which is also a good thing as it will get the locals to raise their game. This argument that only aussies can play aussies is crap, there is a lot of dedicated talent around the world that could do the job.

  3. This is an outrage and I for one urge Australian actors to go on strike for as long as it takes for this decision to be reversed. I’m sure after a year or so of having to do without Australian content the public will rise up and demand the situation be resolved so we can again enjoy Australian voices telling Australian stories – well that or not care one bit. Still worth a try. I suppose an alternative might be to up the quality of local actors so that they can compete on merit but that could never work could it?

  4. So, at the same time, are they going to suggest Australian actor’s can only work overseas in productions that have Australian money invested in them? It seems the Aussie actors want it all their own way – protection of their jobs here whilst expecting to be able to head overseas, to America especially, to take jobs from Americans by playing Americans in US productions. If an American actor can come here, fulfil immigration restrictions, be right for the role, do the best audition and be prepared to take the way worse salary paid here than he/she would get for acting in the States then they should be able to take the job I say. Especially given that our actors are able to do the same thing in reverse and do so on an increasing basis. Every second or third Aussie actor you hear about these days seems to be talking about heading to LA to seek work.

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