Slashing a visa for overseas actors and crew will lead to a Texas Chainsaw Massacre of local talent and turn Australia into an international joke, actors and politicians warn.
The Abbott government has launched a review of the Temporary Work (Entertainment) visa, with a view to axing it as part of its efforts to slash red tape.
In effect, the so-called 420 visa restricts the number of international cast and crew allowed to work on Australian productions, and actors fear its scrapping could cost locals their jobs.
Renowned actors Susie Porter, Geoff Morrell and John Howard travelled to Canberra on Tuesday to lobby against the changes, saying they would be catastrophic for Australia's fragile production industry.
Geoff Morrell, who has starred in everything from Home and Away to Bastard Boys and Blue Healers, said other countries such as the US had stringent employment restrictions to protect local actors.
"This would make us internationally a joke," he said.
Packed to the Rafters' John Howard asked: "Who tells Australian stories best?"
"If we're going to make movies or TV shows with Australian taxpayers money about Australia, then we should have Australian actors in it," he said.
Puberty Blues star Porter said they didn't want to shut the gates on overseas workers.
"It's just about making sure we protect our up-and-coming future generations of actors," she said.
Independent Senator Nick Xenophon called on the government to drop the 420 visa changes, saying Australian actors and crew would be "collateral damage" in its war on red tape.
"If these regulations are removed it would probably be the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, because that's the effect it will on have on Australian actors and crew," Senator Xenophon said.
Veteran MP Bob Katter said the 420 visa and government financing had fostered Australia's internationally success in the film industry.
Without them there would be no Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Nicole Kidman or Mel Gibson, he said.
"There would be no movie called Braveheart, probably the greatest movie ever made in cinema history," the Queensland independent said.
"Wolf Creek, one of the best horror movies recently produced, Mad Max and Gallipoli. The world would be a far poorer place without those movies."
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