Oct 1959 Parliament

 See here

Mr HAYLEN (Parkes) .- T refer to that section of the Estimates that has relation to broadcasting and television services. I would like to analyse the attitude of the Parliament, and particularly that of honorable members on the Government side, to the highly desirable practice of increasing the Australian content of television programmes. Before indulging in any argument about the merits or demerits of Australian artists, let me say that surely, in a country that has gone to a great deal of public expense to provide television services, we should make sure that our programmes are imbued with the Australian spirit and the Australian ethic and the Australian way of life. We all heard the honorable member .for Perth (Mr. Chaney) speaking last night, and we heard you, too, Sir, but not in your capacity as Temporary Chairman. I cannot refer to you in that capacity because it would be contrary to standing orders, and I have no desire to offend. You seemed, however, to have some wretched inferiority complex when considering the question whether Australian artists can make the grade.

The feeling amongst honorable members on the Government side is opposed to the battle being waged by honorable members on this side of the Parliament on behalf of the Australian artist and playwright. Whether honorable members opposite like it or not, there is going to be a considerable amount of Australianism in future television programmes. Although the Postmaster-General (Mr. Davidson) may not be prepared to help us, and although the Australian Broadcasting Control Board may not be able to help us, the force of public opinion will help us. There is no hostility displayed by those who are operating the stations and who are trying to solve the problem, and I would invite the Minister to consider these factors.

If the honorable member for Perth repeated in his electorate what he said last night in this committee he would have to answer to such writers as Katherine Susannah Prichard, Henrietta Drake-Brockman, K. S. Ewers, Gavin Casey and Mr. Stowe, who recently won the Miles Franklin award. There is in Western Australia a surging flood of literature, capable not only of being channelled into television, but also of being adapted for the stage. It is part of our literary heritage, in which Western Australia has always had a high place. The honorable member for Lyne (Mr. Lucock) has also a negative, apologetic and retreating attitude towards this question. The Minister knows that the reason why we have programmes such as are now being shown - outside of the national stations - is that they are a cheap commodity. If it were a question of filled milk, or condensed milk, or foreign cheese or some other such gimmick being imported into the country, the private interests concerned would be badgering the Tariff Board or asking for subsidies and controls. There is no great artistic merit in most of the programmes that we get from overseas. In many cases, they have been brought here simply because they are cheap and nasty and were lying in store, unsure of any certain resurrection, until television came to Australia. They were sold, but they are nearly all finished. This House has to get up to date on this matter. There is a great opportunity for both the Minister and the Australian Broadcasting Control Board and for the members of the Government to say, Now is the time to push the ball along for the Australian writer, the Australian technician and the Australian actor," because television, being a greedy medium, is absorbing all this rubbish that we have been getting. While there are good westerns and good medium performances, and while we must be prepared to have a certain amount of imported entertainment, there is no reason why we should regard ourselves as having this cursed colonial inferiority. We must go right to the people and tell them they can have something of their own. We may make pious resolutions here, but we are going to be urged along by the people outside to do something about the lack of Australian material in television programmes.

The point I make to the Minister is that he should get to the Australian Broadcasting Control Board, and ask it, in turn, to do something about the matter. There have been efforts faithfully made by at least two television stations in New South Wales - I speak only of my own State - which are prepared to give the Australian his representative role in television either as a writer or as an actor. The Australian Broadcasting Commission has been considerate enough to send its representatives here to listen to this debate, and to give any honorable member who seeks it information on the subject. I have sought their advice and opinions, and I have found that the A.B.C. has put on in various ways about 79 plays. Ten of them have been Australian plays.

The A.B.C. has put on, in my opinion, the most memorable " Hamlet " that I have ever seen on stage, screen or television. It was done by Australians with a British producer, I believe, and it was a magnificent effort. It was seen by people who had never before seen Shakespeare performed. They thought Shakespeare was some highbrow gimmick, but when they saw " Hamlet " on television they thought it one of the greatest things they have ever seen. The A.B.C. followed this up a few nights later with a performance of " Julius Caesar ". Now there is a thriller, if you like, or a western if you care to call it that. It is one of the greatest action plays and the public, which had not had an opportunity to see it before because of the snobbery that surrounds the presentation of Shakespeare and opera, saw it on the people's medium, television, and liked it immensely.

Let me tell honorable members that in a recent television diffusion of " Macbeth " in the United States there were 8,000,000 viewers of the work of Shakespeare. Yet we are told that we have to accept American trash and all sorts of stuff that is brought in for transmission to Australian viewers. Nothing of the sort! There is a grand opportunity for the young Australian writer to get right into television and make it something distinctly ours. Then we will have none of this unwarranted expenditure of public money, which is a complete negation of the responsibility of this House to help to preserve the Australian tradition.

The A.B.C. has also established a workshop of well-known Australian writers who are being trained, and whose plays have been discussed. They include people like D'arcy Niland, the young man Kenna, who wrote "The Slaughter on St. Theresa's Day " - a very fine piece of work which was produced at the Elizabethan Theatre - Ric Throssell, who works at the Department of External Affairs, Canberra, and who is a very fine playwright, Miss Lansbury and others, all working with Australian material and all learning the techniques of television. We ask on behalf of such people: " Give us, first, television of an Australian character and wipe out the second rate stuff which is coming into this country. Secondly, give us a percentage minimum content of Australian material on television." We pleaded for a minimum of 33 i per cent. Australian content. This was refused. We were told that the Australian Broadcasting Control Board would look after the content of television programmes. God help us if we are relying on it to do so! It could not look after anything. Look at the infernal mess it is getting into with television transmission licences, where monopoly is being piled on monopoly. There is a reason for that, but it has never been explained to the people of Australia.

This is the place in which to do something about Australia and Australianism, and ,to see that we have Australian .plays and turns on television. They may be comedy turns, or turns of the western type, or anything you like, but they ought to be Australian.

Finally, I think that the A.B.C., in the thoughtful way that it is trying to do things, has pioneered to some degree in the television field. But its efforts are nullified in this House by honorable members opposite asking: " Why do you want to complain about television? Television is all right. There is nothing wrong with westerns." We do not say there .is. But we do say that it is unpleasant that this 'Government has provided no machinery to make television programmes more representative of Australia, and to give opportunities for Australian writers and actors. "They do not form a pressure group. I try to be their pressure group in this place, and I am very proud to be so.

Now I turn to the work of another television channel - Channel 7. There has been nothing done in television more brilliant than “ Johnny» «Belinda» “, an overseas play, true enough, but .done with sensitive skill by Australians. It was one of the greatest experiences of television to have sat in on “ «Johnny» «Belinda» “ and seen the way that our artists did it - not just through artistry and not just for television purposes. Theirs was a sympathetic production brought to life by Australian actors. So, first the actor, then the playwright and then the quota. We tell the Minister that if we cannot have a quota in the formative years to help us we will get it eventually by the force of public opinion, because of the desire of Australians to see their own shows on television.

Let me say that there is nothing to feel inferior about, because man for man, writer for writer, actor for actor, technician for technician, our television is equal to the world’s best. So why should we have this feeling of inferiority about developing our own writers? Why should we let the tide of cheap and nasty stuff come into this country without saying, “ So far, and no further”, at least for a little while. Let us gather our forces together. Here is a new dramatic medium. Why should it be flooded with something alien? Every time an Australian sits down to write he gives us something of his own country, he gives us something of your mind and his mind in what he says, and he gets an answer from your heart and .mine.

I sum up by appealing to members of the Government, and to back-benchers on the Government side particularly, to show a little more courage in relation to Australian television programmes, to have ;I little -faith in their own people. I ask them not to use that outworn old gimmick thai, after .all, art is international. I agree that it is, but old, phoney 20-year-old films hiding in some hill in Hollywood waiting for some rube country to buy them for television is not high art. It is very lowgrade business. That is why I ask the Minister at this stage to give us a percentage >or a quota. He ought to look at the machinery of television so as to preserve the right of Australians to have presented to them by Australians the Australian way of life. There need be no apologies about it. We do not say that something that is no .good should be put on television just because it is Australian. We have had enough of that We have had things that have been repeated four or five times. We have had some films over and over again that were just period pieces. They were put on for the housewives on the 12 o’clock session, when they had the opportunity to see the old clothes and old hats that they used to wear themselves in the days when those films were made.

Some of the critics of television and of our attitude to television say, “You have to measure up to world standards “. Well, we have not been getting world standards to measure up to. I submit that the Australian Broadcasting Commission, in regard to Shakespearean plays and some other shows, has been up to world television standards. I submit in all sincerity that “ «Johnny» «Belinda “ was well up to world standards. It was a most moving and remarkable play, and I was deeply moved and pleased to think that it was produced by Australians. Later on we had an Australian play called, I think, “The Big Day “. That was a memorable occasion. It was beautifully acted. Therefore, on the dramatic side we can produce first-class plays and we ought to have more of them. It is a shocking thing that the Government and the Minister should leave our

Australian playwrights and actors standing outside the door of this Parliament asking for a quota, asking for an opportunity to develop themselves in the television medium. You have not had the guts, Mr. Minister, nor has the Government had the guts, to do something for them. You have a colonial mind on the matter. But behind you is all the force of Australian culture, waiting to be seen and waiting to be heard.


Mr Lucock - I desire to make a personal explanation.
 

Cope is here

Mr COPE (Watson) . - I wish to refer to the Australian broadcasting and television services. A very wide divergence of viewpoint has been expressed by honorable members in regard to the quality of television programmes at present being exhibited to the viewing public. As the owner of a television set for the past two years and three months, with my licence fully paid up, and being a constant viewer whenever time permits, I should like to express my personal opinion of the programmes. Firstly, I consider television as good relaxation, good entertainment and enlightening to the mind. No doubt there is much room for improvement in the quality of the programmes, and I think that as time goes by that improvement will be made. It is perfectly true to say that people's tastes vary very considerably with regard to entertainment. What would suit one person might perhaps be unsuitable or boring to another.

I should like to convey my impression of the programmes on the national station ABN Channel 2. I believe that this station presents the best news and also news digest service. The session " Face the People " is very good and presents views on interesting topics by prominent people and also of the important films. For entertainment " The Phil Silvers Show", the "Life of Riley" and " Amos and Andy " are all very good entertainment indeed. Now 1 turn to station ATN Channel 7. At the outset I take this opportunity of congratulating this station on its presentation of plays using all Australian artists such as " Johnny» «Belinda " which, I believe, is an outstanding production, well acted and presented and, in my opinion, as good, if not better than any other play since the inception of television. Another play which was locally written is entitled " They were big, they were blue, they were beautiful". That also was very good. Another good play was " Thunder of Silence ", and a further outstanding production was " Other People's Homes ". A locally written serial called "Autumn Affair " has been running for about seven months and this is proof of its popularity.

These productions exemplify the outstanding calibre of Australian artists, and the viewing public are proud of our local talent. Then there is the early morning show " To-day " with Ron Taylor and the " Toppanos ". This is a very bright presentation and I recommend it to honorable members if they want to wake themselves out of a deep slumber in the early morning. It is good entertainment. Then there is Jimmy Parkinson's " Hit Parade " and " Shower of Stars " with Hal Lashwood. These are all first-class entertainment. For matters of current topics and items of public importance, the session " Comment " conducted by George Baker, in which he interviews prominent people in the public eye is appreciated because, by candid, open discussions, derived by direct questions and answers, light is thrown on many subjects which were previously unknown to the public. The session entitled " The Burning Question ", conducted by the Reverend Dr. Mackay, also reveals the opinions of prominent people on current topics of great importance. For variety, the " Take a Chance " session and Bob Dyer's " Pick a Box " show are very good entertainment.

I should now like to comment on some of the imported films presented on this station. Again I emphasize that I am expressing only my personal opinion of these programmes. " The People's Choice ", "The Eddie Cantor Show", "The Burns and Allen Show " and " Hey, Jeannie " are all good comedy entertainment. I must admit that I have a weakness for good western films, despite all the shooting that takes place, and in this sphere I believe " Maverick " is really good. For mystery films " 77 Sunset Strip " is excellent. A new film called " The Invisible Man " impresses me with the possibility of encouraging Australian actors. Who could play the leading role in this film better than the Minister for External Affairs (Mr. Casey)? I remind the committee that Australian actors and actresses such as the redoubtable Errol Flynn, who closely resembles the honorable member for Herbert (Mr. Murray), Ron Randall, Michael Pate and Merle Oberon all made names for themselves overseas.

I pass on to TCN Channel 9. Of the productions featuring Australian artists in the entertainment field, the Bobby Limb Show with Buster Fiddess is excellent. This show provides good singing, dancing, comedy and other variety acts. Then, for good music, one of the world’s best pianists, Isadore Goodman, provides good entertainment. For variety, the “ Tell the Truth “ session conducted by George Foster is really very good. For matters of public interest and importance “ Meet the Press “ conducted by David McNicoll is very interesting and presents a wide variety of views by prominent people. Coming to the interviewing of politicians, I have noticed Alan Reid firing a few sticky questions to the person or persons being interviewed. Then we come to “ Viewpoint “ conducted by Eric Baume. Although Mr. Baume has criticized me on several occasions, I always watch this session whenever possible, hoping and trusting that, some day, Eric will agree with somebody else. I have a lot of patience and I shall keep on hoping.

Now I pass on to the imported films. The Dave King Show and the London Palladium Show, “ I Love Lucy “ are very bright entertainment. When it comes to mystery, the Perry Mason Show is excellent. Perry is certainly a good lawyer. He has not yet lost a case. I have no doubt that he would lose the Attorney-General (Sir Garfield Barwick) in presenting a case in court. As for the western films, “ Gunsmoke “ is very good. Marshall Dillon, in many ways, reminds me of the honorable member for East Sydney (Mr. Ward) because he is very quick on the draw and when he fires he never misses. The sporting commentators and announcers employed by the three Sydney television stations are of a high calibre.

In conclusion, I again emphasize the need to give more Australian artists a fair go. On making inquiries, I have discovered that, to date, ATN Channel 7 has displayed five shows sponsored by the Shell company. These shows employed 45 actors, all Australians. Each actor received about £93 per play and leading artists received about £20 extra. Actors included Lou Vernon, James Condon, Kathleen Gorham, Diana Perryman and John Mellion. These are only a few of the many good artists who have taken part in these plays. The plays are presented every fourth week, one coming from Sydney and one from Melbourne alternatively. The figures for the Melbourne produced plays are similar to those for the Sydney plays. They have the same sponsor and, up to date, this company has sponsored eight plays in all - five from Sydney Channel 7 and three from Melbourne Channel 7. There are two more in rehearsal at present. I suggest that Channel 9 and Channel 2 should do more in this field to encourage Australians in the entertainment industry. 

Davidson here

Several honorable members, including the honorable member for Parkes (Mr. Haylen), the honorable member for Banks (Mr. Costa) and the honorable member for Bonython (Mr. Makin), spoke about the quality of programmes. Once again the honorable member for Parkes dealt with the Australian content of programmes, and once again, if I may say so without desiring to offend him, he dealt with the subject with his usual extravagance of words. He said that because we would not agree to the imposition of a quota we were suffering from some inferiority complex as to the quality of Australian artists, musicians and others. That is not so. That is not our attitude. The honorable member said that there would be a considerable Australian content in programmes in the future. He said that several times. I agree with him. There will be; but that will not come about as a result of the Government imposing on licensees at this early stage in the history of this medium a quota that could not be met. This Government is just as much determined as anybody in this chamber, or outside, to build up the Australian content of programmes. But we do not believe that that will be achieved by forcing some percentage - 40 per cent., 50 per cent, or 60 per cent. - on the medium before it is ready, before the trained talent necessary to put on top-level programmes is available. Let us face up to the fact that here in Australia we have not at this stage a large body of trained talent on which to draw. That talent is being developed, as the honorable member said, and it will be increasingly developed, but until it is further developed it would be a mistake to enforce the use of second quality material. It would be a mistake to enforce a quota before, as a result of viewer demand, the Australian production has been built up to such an extent that it will be able to compete financially with productions from overseas. A quota could not be enforced until there was an enlargement of the market generally by the extension of television throughout Australia.

Those are matters that must be taken into account. They are matters that affect the use of Australian talent and the building up of Australian content in our programmes. We are steadily progressing towards the ultimate goal, when, as stated by the honorable member for Parkes, there will be a service with a large Australian programme content. Of course this will come, but it will not be as a result of the imposition of a quota. It will be as a result of the steady building up of the factors that I have just mentioned. When we reach that point there will be no need for a quota system, because the Australian content will be there without any quota.

It is interesting to note in passing that the views I have expressed are the views that were expressed by the Royal Commission on Television. That royal commission made a thorough inquiry into this matter and recommended to the Government the course that it is following. Both the Australian Broadcasting Commission and the commercial licensees are doing a very good job in this steady building up of Australian programme content. I think that the honorable member for Parkes admitted that He said that they were setting out to build up Australian programme content. In doing so they are training script writers, technicians and cameramen. At the same time they have undertaken very considerable capital expenditure in the provision of studios to .enable various programmes to be produced. The honorable member referred, for instance, to “ Johnny» «Belinda “. I agree that that was a splendid effort, but I think that it cost £6,000 to produce. As the market is very limited at this stage, it would be extremely difficult for that production to compete with importations from overseas. I am not decrying local production. I am merely facing the facts and giving them to the committee. I know that a couple of years ago two licensees commenced a play competition, which I thought was a very fine idea. But I was disappointed to find that, although the entries ran into thousands, the quality of the plays submitted was not up to the standard required for a really successful television play. I mention that to show that the licensees are doing their best to meet the Government’s requirement - expressed to them quite often, do not forget, by the Australian Broadcasting Control Board - for a steady build-up of the Australian content of television programmes.

I have made one or two references to what commercial licensees are doing. Let me tell the committee that at present the Australian Broadcasting Commission is devoting about 55 per cent, of its television time to live productions. We should applaud that. The A.B.C. of course is in the fortunate position of not having to keep a careful eye on the viewer estimates taken out by special bodies as the commercial licensees must. Those live productions include news, drama, variety, educational telecasts to schools, interviews and sporting programmes. It is rather significant, bearing that fact in hind, that audience surveys show that the A.B.C. does not attract the same percentage of viewers as do the commercial licensees.

Clay here
Mr CLAY (ST GEORGE, NEW SOUTH WALES) - I preface a question to the Postmaster-General by stating that recently television station ATN produced a play entitled " Johnny» «Belinda " with an allAustralian cast. This play proved to be very popular with the viewing public, and also proved beyond shadow of doubt that when Australian artists are provided with the opportunity, they are equal if not superior to the artists of any other country. Will the Postmaster-General consider a request of all other television stations that they follow the example set by station ATN in producing more all-Australian plays? 

 See here

Mr DAVIDSON (DAWSON, QUEENSLAND) (Postmaster-General) - I have seen the production to which the honorable member has referred. Arrangements were made for it to be shown here last week. I agree that the production by ATN was a very laudable one and its example is something which could be followed, and I know will be followed, by other stations which are actuated by the same desire and will continue steadily to build up the use of Australian talent. 

Also 7 May 1959 see here

Mr DUTHIE (Wilmot) .- I wish to refer to a certain reaction to the speech I made yesterday, when I pleaded for a greater representation of Australian actors and actresses in television pro.gammes. Yesterday I pointed out that the time allotted on television to local artists, compared with imported material, during the week ended 27th February, 1959, was as follows: - A.B.N. , 13 hours Australian, 18i hours foreign; T.C.N., 91 hours Australian, 49i hours foreign; A.T.N., 14i hours Australian, 50J hours foreign - a total of 37 hours Australian as against 118i hours foreign. To-day I received a telegram from Mr. J. H. Oswin, the general manager of A.T.N., Sydney, in which he criticized me for giving what he called erroneous figures for his station. He quoted some very impressive figures to show that in the period in question A.T.N, had devoted 34 hours to live artists, 74 hours to live rehearsals and 51 hours to foreign films. The telegram added -

Our books are open to you for inspection. You may also obtain confirmation these figures from Australian Broadcasting Control Board.

I consulted my colleague, the honorable member for Parkes (Mr. Haylen), who knows more about this matter than I do, and then sent this telegram to Mr. Oswin -

Your figures most impressive. Consulted with Les Haylen who explained excellent work for Australian actors you are doing, particularly in " Others People's Houses " and " Johnny» «Belinda» ". which I saw. I was quoting official figures for week ending 27/2/59. What are your average weekly hours for local as against foreign material?

Mr. Oswinhad not indicated where he got those impressive figures. Later to-day he sent me a very interesting telegram. I must congratulate his station on getting out of the rut in this important matter, which is concerning so many of us. The telegram was as follows: -

Currently our local programming 35 half film 57 half local includes one one-hour Australian drama per month, three fifteen minutes Australian dramatic serial per week, one half hour Australian dramatic serial per v/eek, three fifteen minute news bulletins per day. We also in process production another half hour dramatic series and have commissioned writer for another three fifteen minute dramatic serials. For your interest, A.T.N, has nearly completed £30,000 extensions to accommodate sets and props and rehearsal area to cope with live production. In two and half years our staff has grown from 58 to 320, most of increases becoming necessary to cope with local production.

In complete fairness to A.T.N. I wanted to put the true position before the Parliament. I do not wish to be unfair to any television station. The latest figures from A.T.N, prove that it at least has come to realize that we have top-line actors and actresses in Australia. All they need is guidance, help and encouragement. By spending £30;000 on rehearsal areas, A.T.N, has shown, in a material way. that it intends to increase the number of Australian-produced live shows. That is indeed commendable. I hope that the other stations will follow that good example.

Yesterday 1 mentioned another very very excellent production on G.T.V.9 in Melbourne - " The Caine Mutiny Court Martial ". It was entirely presented by Australian actors and actresses. It received such a wonderful reception that a repeat performance was sought. Top-line theatrical people, including critics, poured in congratulations to the station immediately this excellent show had been completed. Many members of this Parliament saw the show. I did not see it because I live in Tasmania and we do not have television there. I have read about, and have studied, television in operation whenever that has been possible in order to keep myself informed on this subject. I would say that, in "Other People's Houses", " «Johnny» «Belinda " and " The Caine Mutiny Court Martial ", we have excellent productions which prove to the Australian television public that we have here the human material to put on shows equal to the best produced overseas.

Once again I commend A.T.N. upon the increased number of hours that it has devoted to Australian live shows. I hope that it still further encourages local actors and actresses. I appeal to all other television stations to increase, as quickly as they can. the number of hours that they devote to Australian artists appearing in full-blooded Australian shows. That will help us to put over the Australian way of life more effectively, and enable us to get by with fewer films devoted to the American way of life. For too long we have been getting into Australia cheap, discarded productions from the United States of America. I believe that that is the opinion of honorable members generally. I hope that what I have said to-night will be sufficient to indicate that one station at any rate is well on the way to helping Actors and Announcers Equity of Australia in its fight to increase the number of hours devoted to programmes featuring Australian actors and actresses on this country's television stations.

Motion (by Mr. Wight) put -

That the question be now put.