Local television show Outrageous Fortune is causing a trans-Tasman tempest. The Australian Writers' Guild (AWG) has challenged a decision by their Nine Network to count Outrageous Fortune as Australian local content. The New Zealand Writers Guild (NZWG) is supporting this challenge.

Image: Kiwi-as - the cast of Outrageous Fortune.Local television show Outrageous Fortune is causing a trans-Tasman tempest. The Australian Writers' Guild (AWG) has challenged a decision by their Nine Network to count Outrageous Fortune as Australian local content. The New Zealand Writers Guild (NZWG) is supporting this challenge.

Image: Kiwi-as - the cast of Outrageous Fortune."This is as ridiculous as claiming that the All Blacks are an Australian team," says NZWG Executive Director Dominic Sheehan. "We concur with the AWG - Australian networks shouldn't use New Zealand programmes to fulfil their quota obligations."

New Zealand-made shows qualify as Australian content under CER. This is a result of a 1997 court decision which followed the Blue Sky initiative, an initiative designed to allow New Zealand made shows to be classed as legally 'Australian'.

"The NZWG did not support that position then and doesn't support it now," confirms Sheehan.

"We don't believe that Outrageous Fortune should qualify as Australian local content any more than McLeod's Daughters should be classed as 'local' on this side of the Tasman."

"Our two countries have distinctive cultures and the television shows made by our nations wholeheartedly reflect those differences. Seeing ourselves onscreen is a key component of defining ourselves as a nation. To say that shows can pass as local in both New Zealand and Australia is a nonsense."

"It is especially 'outrageous' that such a quintessentially Kiwi show like Fortune be classed as Australian," says Sheehan. "What will Australian networks claim as local next? broTown?"