[LINK] Australian regulatory regime for books unchanged

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

Australian Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research

Media Release: The Hon Dr Craig Emerson MP. 11th Nov 2009

http://minister.innovation.gov.au/Emerson/Pages/REGULATORYREGIMEFORBOOKSTO
REMAINUNCHANGED.aspx


REGULATORY REGIME FOR BOOKS TO REMAIN UNCHANGED 

The Government has decided not to change the Australian regulatory regime 
for books introduced by the previous Labor government.

Australian book printing and publishing is under strong competitive 
pressure from international online booksellers such as Amazon and The 
Book Depository and the Government has formed the view that that this 
pressure is likely to intensify.

In addition, the technology of electronic books (e-books) like Kindle 
Books will continue to improve with further innovations and price 
reductions expected.

The Government has not accepted the Productivity Commission’s 
recommendation to remove the parallel importation restrictions on books.

The Productivity Commission report acknowledged that removing these 
restrictions would adversely affect Australian authors, publishers and 
culture.  The Commission recommended extra budgetary funding of authors 
and publishers to compensate them for this loss.

The Government has decided not to commit to a new spending program for 
Australian authors and publishers.

Compromise proposals were considered, involving reductions in the length 
of the 30-day publication rule and the 90-day resupply rule.

In the circumstances of intense competition from online books and e-
books, the Government judged that changing the regulations governing book 
imports is unlikely to have any material effect on the availability of 
books in Australia.  

If books cannot be made available in a timely fashion and at a 
competitive price, customers will opt for online sales and e-books.

Introducing a price cap along the lines of the Canadian system would 
increase regulation with questionable effects on book prices.

The Australian book printing and publishing industries will need to 
respond to the increasing competition from imports without relying on 
additional government assistance. 

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Cheers,
Stephen