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Issue No. 181 | 06 June 2003 |
National Leadership
History: Nest of Traitors Interview: A Nation of Hope Unions: National Focus Safety: The Shocking Truth Tribute: A Comrade Departed History: Working Bees Education: The Big Picture International: Static Labour Economics: Budget And Fudge It Technology: Google and Campaigning Review: Secretary With A Difference Poetry: The Minimale Satire: Howard Calls for Senate to be Replaced by Clap-O-Meter
Allianz Claims on Sick and Dying Back Pay Bill From Behind the Bars Stabbings Ground Job Cuts � For Now Red Light for Cut Price Labour Hire Sacked Workers� Ultimate Insult Electrolux Repays Survival With Bastardry Nurses: Bosses Should Foot Bank Fees Rail Workers Telegraph Press Council Track Call Centre Leak Shames Stellar
Politics The Soapbox Media The Locker Room
Negative Campaigning Response to Gould Aged Policy Looks Hairy Tom's Turn God Save Billy Deane Solidarity Forever More Bad Language
Labor Council of NSW |
News Gloves Off for Local Voices
The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance is warning that the US-Australia free Trade Agreement and the General Agreement on Trade in Services would both threaten local entertainment and arts. Currently federal legislation mandates a quota of Australian-produced content on television, with federal funds supporting its production. If these were ruled out by a Free Trade agreement it would spell the end of locally produced drama, comedy and children's television MEAA NSW secretary Jonathon Mill told the Labor Council. Mill said the United States was the only country in the world that could produce television content without some form of regulation or subsidy. The Labor Council has given its full backing to the Alliance campaign, with affiliates agreeing to distribute details through workplace delegates. "We need locally produced drama to tell our stories, define our place in the world," Mill says. "If we allow our culture to be traded away we are destroying something basic in our society." Mill says one of the difficulties in understanding the threat to Australian culture is that the talks are being held in secret. What is for certain though, is that once a deal is struck all future governments will be bound. The Alliance is also calling on the Howard Government join 53 other countries including the UK, Canada, new Zealand and France to join the International Network on Cultural Policy, which is developing a charter to protect cultural diversity in the face of the free trade push. The MEAA is convening workshops around the nation to support their 'Free to be Australian' campaign. Full details at their special campaign website: http://www.alliance.org.au/free2baustralian
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