Australia’s book industry has slammed the Turnbull government’s plans for import restriction laws, accusing the Prime Minister of wanting to ‘destroy’ the future of Australian literary work.

Tasmanian author Richard Flanagan launched a tirade against Turnbull during his keynote speech at the Australian Book Industry Awards last week, stating, “If you care about books, don’t vote liberal.”

Several other authors condemned the Federal Government’s proposal for free import books and unrestricted use of copyrighted material, including UK author Jeanette Winterson who urged the book industry to ‘fight’ against the changes.

[Related: Aussie books threatened by parallel import changes]

Revered Australian author Jackie French also gave her two cents at the awards, speaking directly to Turnbull about the Liberal government’s proposed plans.

“Malcolm Turnbull: will you be our book thief, or do you truly stand for an Australia that values intellectual property as the basis of an innovative economy,” says French.

Advocates against the removal of parallel import restrictions say the outcome of free imports will be deep cuts to author income and irreparable damage to the publishing industry. Local book printing contributes 27 per cent of the Australian print industry’s total revenue.

Following Flanagan’s passionate lecture, Liberal senator for Victoria Mitch Fifield released a statement, describing speculation over the damages to the book industry as ‘unfounded’.

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