Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance

But the reason... that it all kicked off was that ABC executives chose the absolute worst battleground I could possibly imagine to wade into what journalists can and can't say.

They chose the federal president of the media section of the MEAA, the union, Michael Slezak.

So the highest... elected union representative of journalists in this country, um, who speaks on behalf of all union journalists.

And he is also an ABC reporter.

So I've got mine as SAG-AFTRA and I've got it so that it displays on both IMDb and IMDb Pro.

I did look up the MEAA, the Australian Acting Union and it is right there.

So MEAA members can put their professional affiliation up on their page and I'm telling you if someone is looking for professional actors in Australia, they will probably include the MEAA as part of the search terms.

So performer profile.

Now, this is all of your background info.

Yeah, and that is because of legislation.

And we, and I, I went to Canberra and was one part of the lobby kind of group with, um, Screen Producers Australia and, and MEAA.

Um, because it was always there.

Like, we make good shows, and a lot of our shows have worked overseas.

In other words, Australia's artists will be the roadkill in the rush to this AI deal.

Speaking to ministers and senators at the inquiry, Adam Portelli from the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance called for AI companies to pay for the artificial use of human creations.

Australia's approach to artificial intelligence must recognise the value of human creative labour and give workers a genuine right to control and be compensated for the use of their work.

The committee is expected to present its final report by the end of November, ahead of Labor's plans to legislate new national AI standards and regulations in 2027.

it's all right.

I'll tell the MEAA.

They're still on the case.

I'm calling the union.

Victorian Arts Centre staff go on strike for the first time in 40 years.

The 24-hour stoppage, stopping Friday night shows, was a joint action by members covered by MEAA, the Media Entertainment Art Alliance, and the Community and Public Sector Union, CPSU, Victorian branch.

The workers are fighting for a 7% pay rise, with wages at the Arts Centre falling 10% behind inflation since 2022.

Nearly 40% of the workforce is on the lowest pay band, with many paid the minimum award wage.