The Australian Writers’ Guild supports our fellow writers of the WGA in their current negotiations and in their decision to take strike action. The rights and conditions of screenwriters underpin any healthy and vibrant screen industry. With strike action now in force, the AWG advises members not to work on active projects within the jurisdiction of the WGA, to…
Continue readingThe legislation implementing the Digital Games Tax Offset was recently tabled in the lower house of Australian Parliament. It is a 30% rebate on the development costs of video games in Australia and specifically states that writers are covered by the definition of eligible costs, including contract workers. A minimum annual spend of $500,000 is…
Continue readingThe legislation implementing the Digital Games Tax Offset was recently tabled in the lower house of Australian Parliament. It is a 30% rebate on the development costs of video games in Australia and specifically states that writers are covered by the definition of eligible costs, including contract workers. A minimum annual spend of $500,000 is…
Continue readingThe Australian Writers’ Guild and AWGACS wish the best of luck to New Zealand AWGACS Members and the New Zealand Writers Guild, who will witness the progression of the Screen Industry Workers Bill in its Second Reading in New Zealand Parliament today, Thursday, 11 August 2022. If the Bill is passed, it will mark a…
Continue readingThe Australian Writers’ Guild is preparing its submission to the federal government regarding the development of a new national cultural policy. The policy is intended to be a comprehensive roadmap to guide the skills and resources required to transform and safeguard a diverse, vibrant and sustainable Australian arts sector now and into the future. We…
Continue readingSubmissions to the ‘Streaming Services Reporting and Investment Scheme’ Discussion Paper were due on 24 April 2022. Many of the issues that the AWG has raised in its submission have been addressed at length in our past submissions including, most recently, to the ‘Modernising television regulation in Australia – Media Reform Green Paper’ [https://awg.com.au/files/documents/210521%20AWG%20Green%20Paper%20Submission.pdf]. The Australian…
Continue readingThe Australian Writers’ Guild is disappointed by the minor reforms proposed in the Streaming Services Reporting and Investment Scheme put forward by Minister Fletcher today. Under the proposed scheme, which is the outcome of the Government’s work to change the free-to-air TV market and implement platform-neutral regulation, large streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon and Disney will…
Continue readingDuring the past two years, the screenwriting community has, by necessity, seen a shift to writers’ rooms being conducted online. As some writers’ rooms return to an in-person format, the AWG has prepared a brief information sheet that contains current information relating to writers’ rights to a COVID-Safe workplace. This document will be regularly updated to reflect…
Continue readingThe Australian Writers’ Guild celebrates the passage through Parliament of legislative changes to federal tax incentives that will promote investment in the screen sector and provide appropriate tax support for local writer-producers. A series of amendments to the Bill were passed yesterday which have safeguarded access to the incentives, ensuring that feature-length documentary and filmmakers…
Continue readingWe are pleased to announce the release of a minimum rates card for Freelance Narrative Designer – Games and Interactive. We have prepared this document following consultation with our Games and Interactive Committee and other AWG members. These rates are intended to apply to low to medium budget projects commissioned by independent Australian games studios. We…
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