Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697634230065.pdf (Australia)
SBS SUBMISSION TO THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS AUSTRALIA’S CREATIVE AND CULTURAL INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS INQUIRY OCTOBER 2020 Key points • For more than 40 years, SBS has been a recognised key cultural institution which provides significant benefits to Australia – both economic and social.

• SBS performs its function with a purpose of inspiring all Australians to explore, respect and celebrate our diverse world and in doing so, contribute to a cohesive society.
• Social cohesion, as supported through SBS services and activities, provides significant economic benefits to the country.

Research commissioned by SBS in 2019 measured, for the first time in this way, the value of social inclusion to the Australian economy, finding that increased social inclusion could provide benefits to the tune of $12.7 billion per annum.
• Through its investment in the Australian production industry, SBS is plays a key role in the economic contribution of the industry to the Australian economy.

• SBS promotes Australia’s national identity, particularly through its unique and truly diverse multicultural Australian content; and Indigenous Australian content, including children’s content.
• At a time when Australians increasingly consume overseas content on international streaming services, the representation of the Australian identity on screens, nationally and internationally, is now more important than ever both for audiences, and the creative and cultural industries.
• SBS will be vital to Australia’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, by driving further social and economic participation, investing in Australian creative and cultural industries, and providing audiences with essential news, information and entertainment.

• Provision of key content on digital platforms is growing.

It is vital that equitable access to this content is provided to ensure all Australians have access to our cultural capital.

I.
I.

Introduction The Special Broadcasting Service Corporation (SBS) appreciates the opportunity to submit to the Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts’ Australia’s Creative and Cultural Industries and Institutions Inquiry.

Page 1 of 11 Australia’s creative and cultural industries and institutionsSubmission 304 SBS is a key cultural institution, as prescribed by the Copyright Amendment Regulations 2011 (No.

1)1 (the Regulations).


SBS is Australia’s only nationally available multilingual and multicultural broadcaster.
The Regulations recognise that SBS ‘maintains collections that are historically or culturally significant to Australia and contain works that are unique and often irreplaceable’.2 SBS’s principal function is to provide radio, television and digital media services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect Australia's multicultural society.3 SBS performs its function with a purpose of inspiring all Australians to explore, respect and celebrate our diverse world and contribute to a more cohesive society.
SBS recognises, measures and grows significant economic and non-economic benefits across Australia, including in remote and regional areas.

SBS reaches almost 100 per cent of the population through its five free to air television channels (SBS, SBS VICELAND, SBS World Movies, SBS FOOD and National Indigenous Television (NITV)), and seven radio stations broadcasting in 63 languages (with audio content also available via the SBS Radio App).
SBS On Demand, SBS’s video-on-demand service4, provides more than 9,000 hours of compelling and thought-provoking content that tells the stories of a truly diverse Australia.
This year, SBS celebrates the 40th anniversary of its television service and the 45th anniversary of its radio service—which was originally established by the Australian Government to inform Australians from non-English speaking backgrounds about Medibank, the then new national health care scheme.5 Today, SBS provides trusted news, information and reports from correspondents located in different states and territories as well as from international correspondents.6 Importantly, SBS language services include content specifically curated for newly arrived migrants through the SBS Settlement Guide.7 SBS has also responded quickly to the COVID-19 crisis; reaching Australian communities, including those who speak a language other than English (LOTE), with vital public health information.
In 63 languages, the SBS Multilingual Coronavirus portal8 has been essential to saving lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the sections below, this submission addresses the following terms of reference for this Inquiry: • The direct and indirect economic benefits and employment opportunities of creative and cultural industries and how to recognise, measure and grow them—where, among other things, it is noted that a landmark study by Deloitte Access Economics for SBS demonstrates the economic benefits of inclusion, both through SBS content and services, and across the economy.
• The non-economic benefits that enhance community, social wellbeing and promoting Australia's national identity, and how to recognise, measure and grow them—where it is noted that SBS’s distinctive content in English and more 1 https://www.legislation.gov au/Details/F2011L01698/Supporting%20Material%203/Text 2 https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2011L01698/Supporting%20Material%203/Text 3 SBS Charter.
4 SBS On Demand https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand 5 For further information, please see A Brief History of SBS at https://www.sbs.com.au/news/a-brief-history-of-sbs 6 Reuters Digital News Report, 2020 https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox ac.uk/sites/default/files/2020- 06/DNR 2020 FINAL.pdf 7 SBS Settlement Guide available at https://www sbs.com au/radio/settlement-guide in Bangla, Filipino, Gujarati, Hindi, Indonesian, Korean, Malayalam, Nepali, Punjabi, Sinhalese, Tamil, Urdu, Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Kurdish, Spanish, Amharic, Dari, Dinka, Persian, Khmer, Pashto, Swahili, Thai, Tigrinya, Turkish, Hmong, Hakha Chin, Karen, Kirundi, Mongolian, Rohingya, Tibetan and Somali 8 https://www.sbs.com au/coronavirus Page 2 of 11 Australia’s creative and cultural industries and institutionsSubmission 304 than 60 other languages serves and reflects our increasingly multicultural and multilingual society and fosters a sense of belonging among the many communities that call Australia home.
• The best mechanism for ensuring cooperation and delivery of policy between layers of government—where it is noted, for example, that First Nations content delivered by NITV, in particular content for First Nations children, is a way of informing, entertaining and educating while also supporting Closing The Gap policy objectives by increasing Indigenous representation on screen.
NITV was established in response to the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and continues to play a vital role in representing First Nations perspectives for all Australians.
• The impact of COVID-19 on the creative and cultural industries—where it is noted that SBS’s role is delivering comprehensive, accurate and constantly- updated health and safety information about the pandemic in 63 languages has been essential, and SBS’s support for the independent production sector as it recovers from the impact of COVID-19 restrictions will be vitally important.
• Avenues for increasing access and opportunities for Australia's creative and cultural industries through innovation and the digital environment—where it is noted that SBS supports the industry more broadly as a digitally-capable multilingual public broadcaster able to pivot, often in collaboration with industry partners, with technological advances to tell the stories of Australia’s multicultural society, and the news of our country, the region and the world.

II.
II.

Economic contribution SBS recognises, measures and grows economic benefits of the creative and cultural industries, including those as a result of fostering social inclusion SBS commissions unique content in line with its Charter mandate to inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect Australia's multicultural society.

The creative and cultural industries (the Industries) with which SBS produces this content, benefit directly from SBS’s investment.
SBS’s contribution to employment in, and growth of, the Industries is significant.

SBS’s commissioned content creates employment opportunities, including those for independent producers.9 SBS’s commissioning budget is invested directly in the production industry.
National and international success of SBS content, particularly premium longer-form drama, has led to increasing levels of interest from partners, including local and international broadcasters, distributors, sales agents and streaming services, looking to potentially invest in SBS’s unique storytelling.

This co-investment in Australian content directly benefits the production industry, bringing exposure and additional employment opportunities to Australia’s considerable talent, both on and off screen.
Importantly, the community also benefits economically from SBS’s commitment to fostering social inclusion through Australian content, enhancing understanding of the diversity of contemporary Australia.

The Economic Benefits of Improving Social Inclusion report (the Inclusion Report) by Deloitte Access Economics was commissioned by SBS and published in August 2019.
For the first time in this way, it measures the potential lift 9 According to Screen production in Australia: Independent screen production industry census report by Deloitte Access Economics for Screen Producers Australia, 13,139 people were employed in the screen production industry in 2018.
The report is available at https://assets-us-01.kc-usercontent.com/89c218af-4a5a-00a2-9d83-3913048b3bc7/47ffa015-6efc- 4df3-a0d6-02f3d068fd68/Deloitte%20Access%20Economics%20-%20Screen%202019%20-%20FINAL.pdf Page 3 of 11 Australia’s creative and cultural industries and institutionsSubmission 304 to Australia’s economy that could be driven by improved employment and health outcomes, increased workplace productivity, and reduced costs of social services, as a result of greater social inclusion.
The Inclusion Report shows that improved social inclusion could deliver quantifiable economic benefits to Australia of $12.7 billion per annum.10 The creative and cultural industries more broadly also have an important role to play in contributing to social inclusion.

SBS’s supports diversity in the Industries, to the benefit of all Australians SBS supports diverse and emerging Australian screen talent through a range of programs.
For example, SBS has partnered with all State and Territory screen agencies on the SBS Diversity Talent Escalator, which has created more than 25 career development opportunities for emerging and mid-level screen practitioners from backgrounds currently underrepresented within the Australian screen industry.
SBS’s Short Form Content Initiative builds on the Diversity Talent Escalator, by providing increased opportunities for Australian creatives from diverse backgrounds—through the initiative’s commissioning of scripted ‘Digital Originals’ content for SBS On Demand, in partnership with State screen agencies.

At the time of writing, nine screen series are being developed and produced around the country.
NITV commissioned content is made by production teams of which at least two of the three key creative roles (in the producer, director or writer teams) are held by Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander screen professionals.

This ensures an authentic voice ‘behind the camera’ as well as on screen, and is a commitment made to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander screen production sector.
SBS is also a founding member of the Screen Diversity and Inclusion Network (SDIN)11 which aims to increase diversity in front of and behind the camera.
The most recent initiative of the SDIN, launched in late 2019, is The Everyone Project, an industry-wide tool to quantitatively measure and encourage diversity among the production industry’s practitioners.12 SBS supports multilingualism, benefiting the economy through trade relations SBS services help drive Australia's economy by fostering multilingualism.
As reported by the World Economic Forum—speaking more than one language can boost economic growth, including because speaking multiple languages can help build trade relations.13 SBS provides in-language subtitles, assisting with English learning and proficiency.
Closed captioned programs are also available, which can be of assistance to language learners as well as generations of migrants seeking to enjoy English language programs; while SBS’s key current affairs content is also frequently subtitled into LOTE, further supporting inclusion.

In 2019, SBS launched a ‘Chinese Collection’14 and an ‘Arabic Collection’15 available for audiences on SBS On Demand.
The collections saw some of SBS’s distinctive local commissioned programs, subtitled in simplified Chinese and Arabic.

This collection continues to expand, with new titles being regularly added.
10 The Economic Benefits of Improving Social Inclusion, August 2019, available at https://www2.deloitte.com/au/en/pages/economics/articles/economic-benefits-improving-social-inclusion.html 11 Further details can be found on the Screen Diversity and Inclusion Network’s website https://www sdin.com au/ 12 https://theeveryoneproject.org/ 13 https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/02/speaking-more-languages-boost-economic-growth 14 https://www.sbs.com au/ondemand/chinese-collection 15 https://www.sbs.com au/ondemand/arabic-collection Page 4 of 11 Australia’s creative and cultural industries and institutionsSubmission 304 SBS content supports Australian businesses SBS’s Small Business Secrets weekly program, hosted by SBS World News presenter Ricardo Gonçalves, explores the challenges and triumphs of small business owners throughout Australia, with a focus on migrant and Indigenous-owned small businesses and accompanied by comprehensive educational resources16—with research showing that around a third of small businesses in Australia are owned by migrants.17 Small businesses are a critical component of Australia’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.
Figure 1: A screenshot from Small Business Secrets on the SBS website18 II.

Non-economic benefits SBS promotes Australia’s national identity, by showcasing truly diverse and culturally significant Australian stories on our screens and to the world Australia’s national identity is truly diverse.

A quarter of Australians were born overseas, and approximately half have at least one parent born overseas.
Twenty-one per cent (4.87 million people) speak a language other than English at home, with 150 Australian Indigenous languages also spoken at home, according to the 2016 Australian Census.19 SBS promotes this national identity by providing the opportunity for diverse and culturally significant Australian stories and for all Australians to see themselves represented—on our screens and around the world.
These Australian stories include 16 Small Business Secrets program is accompanied by comprehensive resources for secondary level economics and business studies, including teachers’ resources and Australian business case studies—available on SBS Learn at https://www.sbs.com au/learn/resources/australian-business-case-studies 17 https://www.titanmigration.com.au/news/2018/5/25/research-shows-migrants-own-33-of-all-small-businesses-in- australia 18 The commercial laundry changing lives one wash at a time available at https://www sbs.com.au/news/small-business- secrets/article/2020/06/08/commercial-laundry-changing-lives-one-wash-time 19 Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016 Census available at https://www.abs.gov au/websitedbs/censushome.nsf/home/2016 Page 5 of 11 Australia’s creative and cultural industries and institutionsSubmission 304 multilingual, multicultural and Indigenous stories which are not available on other major networks or streaming services.
Being accurately represented on screens contributes to Australians’ cultural continuity, positive sense of belonging, emotional and social well-being.

Particularly at a time when overseas content on international streaming services is increasingly prevalent, this representation of the Australian identity on screens is now more important than ever.

SBS is proud of its enduring partnerships with Screen Australia and State and Territory screen agencies, in commissioning these diverse Australian stories.
As an example, award-winning The Family Law20 comedy-drama was produced in association with Screen Australia and Screen Queensland, showcasing for the first time a predominantly Asian-Australian cast on mainstream Australian screens.

SBS would be pleased to play an even greater role in supporting high-quality Australian stories, which reflect among ourselves and to the world who we really are.
Case study – Sunshine – enhancing and promoting community and national identity Community perceptions about South Sudanese migrants changed after watching the series with 77% reporting they were better informed and educated as a result of Sunshine.21 An accompanying documentary Apex Gang: Behind the Headlines, received acclaim for its unique perspective on the issues, beyond mainstream media coverage.
Further, 86% of survey respondents said they felt Sunshine promoted cultural diversity, contributed to the overall diversity of Australian television and helped to drive social cohesion.22 SBS also collaborated with the Centre for Contemporary Photography and Brimbank City Council to celebrate Sunshine, by giving eight aspiring photographers a chance to tell the story of their community through images, with access to expert-led workshops to facilitate their storytelling.
Artist workshops had positive outcomes on the selected photographers, with increased community engagement.

Photographers expressed interest in supporting other SBS outreach projects, while others used this opportunity as a step towards becoming a professional photographer.

Many photographers have since continued their passion in photography and considered it a new career option.
[…]23 Figure 2: Ror da Poet and Wally Elnour in the AACTA-award winning Sunshine (SBS) 20 Based on Benjamin Law's hit memoir of the same name, this critically acclaimed series is currently nominated for the 2020 Equity Ensemble Awards—Comedy for its season 3 and was awarded Best Casting in a TV Comedy (Casting Guild of Australia) and Comedy Series Production of the Year (SPA Award); it also earned two AACTA nominations.
The Family Law is available at https://www.sbs.com au/ondemand/program/the-family-law 21 SBS community research 22 SBS community research 23 The Inclusion Report, page 46.

Page 6 of 11 Australia’s creative and cultural industries and institutionsSubmission 304 Australia’s creative and cultural industries and institutionsSubmission 304 Australia’s creative and cultural industries and institutionsSubmission 304 network productions.

These resources are developed in accordance with the Australian Curriculum.
SBS has extensive experience working with partners to draw on the knowledge of relevant subject matter experts.

For example, ahead of the August 2019 premiere of SBS drama, The Hunting33, SBS partnered with the eSafety Commissioner to produce educational resources to assist parents/carers and teachers to keep young people safe online.

Figure 4: The Hunting was produced in Adelaide with major production investment from Screen Australia, in association with the South Australian Film Corporation (SBS) III.
SBS helps ensure cooperation and delivery of policy between layers of government SBS has a key role to play in policy delivery across government.

SBS works with governments and government agencies of all levels, on policy areas including Indigenous Australians (see section II.

Non-economic benefits); education; health; cyber security; copyright; privacy; and foreign affairs (including soft diplomacy).
A key example of SBS’s delivery on important policy objectives is NITV, which joined the SBS network in December 2012.

Prior to its inception, increased support and funding for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-controlled media was a recommendation of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody in 1991.

NITV was established after the Australian Government announcement in September 2005—that it would fund the creation of an Indigenous television service, commencing in July the next year.
The service would be built on the then narrowcasting service, Imparja Television, and was charged with producing and commissioning Indigenous programming.34 By bringing NITV into the SBS network in 2012, NITV now reaches almost 100 per cent of the Australian population, and the SBS network plays a key role in sharing Indigenous content and services across all audiences.
For example, NAIDOC Week 2020, to be held in November, will see a week-long dedicated schedule, across the SBS 33 The Hunting follows the lives of four young Australians, their teachers and families throughout the lead up, revelation and aftermath of a nude teen photo scandal.

It explores the experiences of the teenagers as they traverse the complexities of relationships, identity and sexuality via technology.
34 For history if NITV, please visit https://www.sbs.com.au/news/the-first-storytellers-the-history-of-nitv Page 9 of 11 Australia’s creative and cultural industries and institutionsSubmission 304 network, marking the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.35 SBS services in more than 60 languages also assist with the wider understanding of government policies by all Australians, such as through the SBS Settlement Guide, which focusses on assisting communities, particularly their new arrivals, to participate in the many aspects of Australian civic life.
The SBS Settlement Guide includes explanation of ‘need-to-know’ facts about settling in Australia, for example, Australia’s health and justice systems and available government services, as well as provide ‘how-to’ practical advice such as how to apply for a job, access medical services, enrol to vote, or lodge a tax return.

Each Settlement Guide is produced in-house as an audio feature for radio, a text article for online and a ‘listicle’ for sharing on social media.36 IV.
The impact of COVID-19 on the creative and cultural industries The creative and cultural industries have been significantly disrupted by COVID-19 as a result of measures to ensure the safety of those employed in the industries, and society more broadly.

Content production was impacted in a range of ways, and programs where travel was required were largely put on hold.
However, while continuing to take a responsible approach, SBS continues to work with and support the production sector, increasing investment in development and ‘greenlighting’ content where it has been safe to do so.

SBS also responded quickly and directly to the crisis, in adapting and increasing the way we perform our vital and essential role, particularly in reaching Australian communities, and providing those who speak LOTE with important public health information.
SBS’s COVID-19 initiatives include the SBS Multilingual Coronavirus portal37 available in 63 languages with dynamic fact sheets outlining current restrictions; more than twenty in- language coronavirus infographics; ‘Coronavirus Explained’ videos in 59 languages; as well as specific engagement with audiences in Victoria, including distribution of print material in 17 key languages to residents of the Melbourne public housing units in lockdown in July 2020.
To support the Industries’ recovery from the crisis, SBS continues to work with its partners as well as State and Federal governments and agencies—on a range of industry initiatives and adoption of new practices.
Our programming continues to provide much- needed entertainment and opportunities to escape, bringing audiences the most distinctive content from around the world across our network; at the same time, it continues to support, in particular, the content production sector and employment opportunities herein.
V. SBS is a ‘digital native’ network, providing avenues for increasing access and opportunities for Australia’s creative and cultural industries through innovation and digital environment SBS is a ‘digital native’ network, integrating and growing its digital innovation as part of delivering its services and activities.

This is a key platform for increasing access and opportunities for the Industries, particularly around creative content produced and acquired by SBS.
This includes SBS On Demand, providing key content at the preferred time and place of audiences; the SBS VR app, available on Android platform, providing virtual reality experience of Australia’s cultural events such as Diwali, the Garma Festival, Vivid Sydney and selected film festivals, among others; and SBS’s 63 language services’ websites, social media accounts and the SBS Radio app—providing live audio, downloadable podcasts, catch-up listening, digital articles as well as online platforms for 35 https://www sbs.com.au/aboutus/nitv-sbs-champion-first-nations-history-culture-and-achievements-with-special- naidoc-week-2020-programming-slate 36 SBS Settlement Guide available at https://www sbs.com au/radio/settlement-guide 37 https://www sbs.com.au/coronavirus Page 10 of 11 Australia’s creative and cultural industries and institutionsSubmission 304 Australia’s creative and cultural industries and institutionsSubmission 304