Speaking at a conference in Canberra  last week the MP said it was “inevitable” book sales would move exclusively online, with consumers and technology driving the change. He adds that book retailing in particular is feeling the presence of large international organisations in the Australian market through online sales.

He says, “Bricks-and-mortar bookshops and book printers around the world are feeling the pressure of the changing environment more than any other part of the supply chain.

“Bookshops – like many other businesses – will have to adapt to the new digital reality and will no longer be bookshops as we have grown to know them.”

He also told ABC News 24 that the change is impacting on businesses. He said, “We have to plan for it. We have to adjust for it. Consumers out there are using these new methods. It’s not just selling, distribution. It’s also using these technologies to pay accounts.”

Sherry urged business to embrace modern technology in order to improve productivity and efficiency, and to maintain competitiveness.

He continued, “I think many booksellers are changing their book model. I’ve spent a lot of time in bookshops. I’ll probably be the last one to be converted to e-books. So it’s not just the issue of online distribution, web-based selling, it’s also the rise of new technology for reading books.

“And I use this as an illustrative case to highlight the fact that we need to be able to adjust to these new technologies and do it very, very quickly. Otherwise, it’ll be much tougher to survive in the business environment.”

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