• The Agreement has preserved our right to ensure local
  content on Australian media, and retains the capacity to
  regulate new and emerging media, including digital and
  interactive TV.
• AUSFTA ensures that there can be Australian voices and
  stories on audiovisual and broadcasting services, now and in
  the future.

Summary

Australia has successfully negotiated a reservation to the
services chapter that ensures the Government's capacity to
regulate for Australian content so that it remains available to
Australian consumers.

This capacity extends to both existing and new forms of
media, whether analogue or digital, including free-to-air and
subscription television, radio, and other media.

For free-to-air television, provision has been made for
regulation in a possible multi-channelled environment and if
television channels move to other delivery platforms.

The capacity to regulate beyond existing measures for
important formats on subscription television, such as drama,
documentaries or children's programming, has been
guaranteed.

The Government is also be able to take measures to ensure
that Australian content on new media platforms is not
unreasonably denied to Australian consumers, should it
determine that Australian material is not readily available to
them.

Full capacity for subsidy and taxation incentive programs
for cultural purposes has also been preserved.