The Australian Writers’ Guild is heartened by the Australian Government’s recently released Green Paper, which proposes long-overdue media industry reform. The announcement offers a glimmer of hope to a crippled screen industry that has been weakened by evolving consumer habits, inadequate support and diminished production due to COVID-19.

It’s time to polish off those final drafts and put your best script forward as the Australian Writers’ Guild’s 2020 Monte Miller Awards are officially open for entries! Dedicated to uncovering the hottest new scripts and writing talent across Australia, the Monte Miller Awards are a purpose-built and industry-recognised opportunity for AWG Associate and Student members to have their work showcased directly to industry decision-makers.

In 2019, the Morrison Government embarked on an extensive review of the Australian screen sector under the promise of long-overdue industry reform. Communications, Cyber Safety and Arts Minister Paul Fletcher today announced new local content quota rules for commercial free-to-air broadcasters and shocked the screen sector with a failure to regulate streaming giants such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube and Stan. This proposal does not provide an adequate framework for continued sector growth, let alone one that is future-proof and platform neutral.

Steeped in mystery and terror, Angus Cerini's new play centres around the unsolved murders at Wonnangatta Station in rural Victoria in 1918. Two men unravel a grim trail of violence while searching for their friend and farm manager, Jim Barclay, and embark on a journey, looking for answers.

In a year marked by uncertainty and upheaval, the power of stories has taken on new and profound meaning. Unable to gather in person, we have instead gathered in shared narratives, connecting across ideas and experiences, and finding moments of joy in film, theatre and television. Yet our Australian stories are under threat, ravaged by years of funding cuts to the screen and stage sectors, competition from unregulated players, and hindered by the current suspension of content quotas and pending government reform. In 2020, there has never been a more important time to join the fight to protect, support and celebrate our industry. In this spirit, the Australian Writers’ Guild is proud to announce a field of screen and stage writers whose work exemplifies the powerful stories we are fighting for, nominated today for the 53rd Annual AWGIE Awards.