The Coalition for Cheaper Books...

  • Believes customers in Australia pay too much for books
  • Advocates an open market,leading to lower prices quicker availability
  • Supports removal of restrictions on parallel importation of books
  • Argues the current policy can't be justified in an era of e-commerce

Archive | March, 2011

Online shoppers write unhappy ending for Borders, Angus & Robertson

7. March 2011

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THE Australian consumer’s love affair with online shopping has finally caught up with the old world of traditional bookselling, as Borders and the 125-year-old Angus & Robertson chain were placed into voluntary administration last night. The failure of the group, which also owns New Zealand’s Whitcoulls outlets of books and stationery stores, puts in doubt more [...]

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Dymocks is here to stay

7. March 2011

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With REDgroup Retail entering into voluntary administration last week, RetailBiz caught up with book chain Dymocks’ CEO Don Grover to see whether they were feeling the pressure of online shopping. “We’re no where near it,” Grover said. “No doubt retailers are finding the current retail environment tough and online shopping is posing a challenge, but we’re in [...]

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It’s the lunacy of protectionism writ large

7. March 2011

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ONE day it will be taught in economics courses as proof of the futility of protection. In 2009, the federal cabinet rejected a Productivity Commission report that recommended an opening of the Australian book market. All the economic ministers argued for reform. It was defeated narrowly. As a result, your local bookshop was banned from importing [...]

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