If you are still complaining about Australian TV, it’s time to shut up

If you are still complaining about Australian television, it’s time to shut up. If all you have to say is “I never watch free-to-air television”, maybe just be quiet. If you have nothing nice to say, you know what? Just say nothing.

Because when you do say that – yep, we read all the comments under our stories about the Logie Awards – it tells me how boring you are. How predictable you are, and how much you enjoy telling anyone who listens that you prefer to watch “overseas programs”.

To be frank, you are missing out. I’m not going to get all jingoistic here, but I am just tired of hearing, and reading, about people moaning about Australian television. Yes, it’s not all perfect. I am aware the production of Australian children’s television has collapsed and commercial free-to-air networks are spending barely half as much on drama as five years ago, but like the late great Sam Neill said , I too, prefer to “spiral up”.

So, here we go, spiralling up: If you want to know where Australian TV has been and where it is going, take a look at the Logies. It celebrated those who have made enormous contributions to our screen industry – Hall of Famers Deborah Mailman and Andrew Denton , and the late Sam Neill and Johnny Young , and many others mentioned in the In Memoriam segment – and it pointed to where we are going, with the recognition of Goolagong star Lila McGuire as best new talent. Those nominated in the acting categories were a mix of well-known names ( Simon Baker , Claudia Karvan , Brooke Satchwell , Catherine McClements) and fresh faces ( Yerin Ha , Odessa Young, Eleanor Matsuura), while Indigenous actors featured heavily in most of the acting categories.

It also celebrated the breadth and depth of the stories we tell – Indigenous, rural, trans, city and country – and the people telling those stories: new voices, experienced voices, First Nations voices and a couple of Kates. It recognised A Country Practice , a landmark show that was an absolute staple if you grew up in the country, as I did, and were stuck with only two channels. Yes, it was a bit naff and its biggest star was a wombat, but it was a long-running local series that delivered and opportunities by the bucketload, both on screen and off.

Look, I’m not here to defend the Logies. The fact that Mailman is the first Indigenous person – and only the sixth woman – to be entered into the Hall of Fame, which has been around since 1984, is, frankly, appalling. And I can’t really get behind the decision to award Steve Bisley best actor in a comedy for his role in season two of Deadloch , when Dog Park ’s Leon Ford was right there. I do wish The Narrow Road to the Deep North had been recognised in the best drama category, because it is a truly heartbreaking and difficult piece of television that deserves to be seen.

But I am hopeful about the people and programs that were recognised, and nostalgic and proud of those who have made their mark. I am also most excited about what comes next.