Michael Hawkins, the Executive Director of the National Association of Cinema Operators (NACO) has confirmed to Screenhub that the organisation is continuing to pressure the federal government after it was locked out of a deal to support Independent Cinemas Australia (ICA).
Both the mainstream and indie cinema sectors have seen their audiences dwindle, sometimes to less than 30% because of COVID-19. The impact on the smaller proprietors represented by ICA has been more acute, and they have a strong base in regional and remote areas which are often represented by Coalition members.
