Today I am embarrassed to be an Australian.

Today I received an email from a New Zealand friend pointing out an Email spreading through the NZ cinema and film production community concerning the bungling of a large project by a organisation called ICAA, (International Cinema Association of Australia)

The contents of this Email is very disturbing. I have followed up the content, and it appears correct. I am not sure what to think, so wanted to share it here.
Considering what has happened, the writers requests of the Australian government to apologise is something I would support. How do we make that happen?

I am also angry as Australia's cinema industry will also loose hundreds of jobs..

The Email follows...
---
New Zealand Cinema industry Call To Action

Attention Cinema industry workers and others.

I am writing you today as a “Call to Action” in an attempt to stop a great injustice about to befall the cinema industry in New Zealand. I like many other cinema industry workers will likely loose my job over the next 6-12 months as many independent cinemas are forced to closed.

Due to this tragic circumstance that will likely result in the closure or numerous cinemas and the loss of hundreds of jobs, I wanted to see what could be done

I discovered circumstances that are outrageous and very disturbing. I feel I must share my discovery as to encourage some good to come from these tragic circumstances.
---

The full Email can be found here.
https://nzcinemacta.wordpress.com/

An interesting scenario.

But it is not entirely clear what role the Australian Government has played, or why it is an "embarrassing international incident". It would appear to be a commercial issue, conducted between commercial interests.

It is not even clear from the jottings here why the cinemas themselves are "threatened". If they need financial assistance to keep up with technology, then I am sure that the competent businesses among their number will find a way.

William s are you pulling our leg, bet you are a kiwi!
That country is while a mate nation as big a crew of anti Aussie cry baby's as exists any place in the world.
Remember? I do! they had headlines in every paper crying about having to listen to our anthem so much at the last games they hosted.

Who the hell cares?

They have been sending their unemployed over here to be looked after for years. This lot will follow the usual trail.

I suppose I should have made it clearer.

The Australian Federal court found criminal behavior. This comes under ASIC and they should have acted upon the findings.
They did not. = the government did nothing.
The companies involved have continued to behave inappropriately resulting in the loss as about 100 million donation into Australia and New Zealand. The loss of many small cinemas and hundreds of jobs.

This is bad.. It makes front page when a car company fires a few hundred people. This is worse. And the government, if it did its job, could have stopped this from happening.

This is embarrassing as its just not Australia, its New Zealands cinema industry that has been harmed too.

I personally consider this outrageous.
William.

Sorry, that is not the case william.s

>>The Australian Federal court found criminal behavior.<<

You will find that each of the relevant provisions of the Corporations Act (Sections 180-183) describes civil, not criminal issues.

While you are technically correct in saying that ASIC has the power to step in and make their presence felt, the limit of their powers in these cases is either a pecuniary penalty, or disqualification. Neither of which would have had any impact on the cinema industry. Quite possibly, ASIC took the view that they would be likely to spend more of the taxpayers money than they would recoup from a fine.

What the judgement does, of course, is open the way for a civil suit for damages against the guilty party. Why do the cinemas involved not take this opportunity?

Over to you.