Printing Industries’ National Manager for Policy and Government Affairs, Hagop Tchamkertenian, said this was the government’s third attempt in 12 years to have the 30-day rule abolished.
Tchamkertenian said Printing Industries would be campaigning for the retention of the 30-day rule, because it has benefited both Australian book readers and book printers. CEO, Philip Andersen (pictured below), has confirmed the organisation’s intention to lobby the government on the matter.
Andersen said that the 30-day rule does not provide a blanket prohibition on the supply of new book titles to the Australian market. Other stakeholders such as the Australian Book Publishers Association have also been approached to help coordinate lobbying efforts, he said.
He added, “The 30-day rule stipulates that local publishers must supply a book to the Australian market within 30 days of its publication overseas. If the book is not supplied within that timeframe, the local copyright holder forsakes their copyright privileges, allowing booksellers to import the book directly from any overseas supplier for distribution within Australia.”
COAG (the Council of Australian Governments) has agreed to a number of priority areas for competition reform, including parallel importation of books with implementation plans to be considered in October.
The Federal Government will request the Productivity Commission undertake reviews of Australia’s anti-dumping system and parallel import restrictions on books.
Andersen said Printing Industries would be working with the main stakeholders in the book-printing industry to oppose any moves by the Federal Government to remove the 30-day rule.
“The issue will also be raised with the Commonwealth Government both through the framework of the proposed Printing Industry Working Group as well as directly with the office of the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs, Chris Bowen.
“The minor parties that now hold the balance of power in the Senate will also be approached, as well as the Opposition,” he said.
Hagop Tchamkertenian commented, “We are very interested in getting more industry feedback in a number of key areas to help us to reinforce the printing industry’s position on this important issue.
“The last time the 30-day rule issue was examined was back in 2001 when Printing Industries’ analysis of both industry statistics and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) own statistics clearly demonstrated that the operation of the 30-day rule has not only been responsible for exerting a downward pressure on book prices in Australia, bit has made newly released book titles cheaper in Australia compared to both the USA and the UK.”
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