Thursday, October 22, 2009

Sparring Australian booksellers support compromise
Jacob Saulwick, Sydney Morning Herald, October 20, 2009

A BROAD front of booksellers is pushing a compromise plan to members of the Federal Government that would partially open Australia's book market.
The Coalition for Cheaper Books, representing Dymocks and major chains, has swung its support behind a proposal advanced by smaller bookstores that does not go as far as a Productivity Commission recommendation to end restrictions on book imports.
The Labor federal caucus is scheduled to vote today on a resolution rejecting the commission's report.
Government MPs were sent letters late last week by members of the Coalition for Cheaper Books and the Australian Booksellers Association, which represents Angus & Robertson as well as smaller, independent stores.
The letters suggest keeping import restrictions, but requiring publishers to release a local version of a book within seven days of its release overseas.
Publishers now have 30 or 90 days to put out a local version of a book and be protected from import restrictions.

The Coalition for Cheaper Books had previously supported calls for a complete dismantling of import restrictions.
The proposal is partly framed as a response to the rising levels of competition from internet sales.
While ''internet sales will increase, it is not inevitable that people will abandon their local bookstores. But to compete we need to be given a fair go and the current rules don't do that,'' the letter says.
But Maree McCaskill, the chief executive of the Australian Publishers Association, said the idea was logistically impossible.
Today's caucus vote may be delayed because Government senators will be also required at estimates hearings.

No comments: