The Australian film and television industry has received large subsidies over the last 20 years or so, directly by way of grants through bodies like the Australian Film Commission, and indirectly by way of tax concessions, devices intended to limit foreign competition and protect the employees of the industry, or expenditure on specialised education and training for the industry.

It has had some successes. There have been a few commercially successful films and a greater number of successful soap operas, like ‘Neighbours’. The presence of Australia in the world film industry is a reality, with the showing of Australian films most of all ‘Crocodile Dundee’) having done much to to increase awareness of Australia. Series like ‘Neighbours’ have done the same by their appeal to mass television audiences.