Australian Soap Stars Strike

Australian soap stars went on strike yesterday in protest at poor pay and conditions in the country's A$1.2bn (£480m) film and television industry.

The actors' strike was called this month to highlight low pay rates, uncertain contracts and limits placed on actors' royalties for repeats and foreign sales.

Among the 500 turning up to meetings in Melbourne and Sydney yesterday were Tom Oliver, who plays Lou Carpenter in Neighbours, and Jason Donovan, who stars in Australian legal drama MDA. The action may set back the on-air dates of Neighbours and Home and Away. Filming stopped yesterday on the sets of all film and television productions in Australia, with the exception of two films where terms were agreed with the MEAA union.

The average income across the industry is just £4,000. The equity minimum for a full week's work on television is £650, although Australian serial dramas are worth well over A$200m (£80m) a year.

According to the union many are ordered to keep several days free for filming but are only paid for the time they are in front of the cameras. "Some of these people work irregular and uncertain times for very little money," said the MEAA's Simon Whipp.

The Screen Producers' Association said that local productions were unable to compete economically with US shows.