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

Tag Archive | "Book Coalition News"

Media Release – Bookshops vow to fight Government decision to keep book prices high

Thursday, November 12, 2009

0 Comments

The Coalition for Cheaper Books said it would step up its campaign to scrap unfair import restrictions on books after the Federal Government’s decision today not to reform the system which keeps book prices high. Coalition member and Dymocks Chief Executive Officer, Don Grover, said Cabinet’s decision to ignore a recommendation from its main economic adviser the [...]

Continue reading...

Coalition For Cheaper Books And Australian Booksellers Association Call For Reform Of Parallel Importation Rules

Thursday, November 5, 2009

2 Comments

The Government is now considering the recent Productivity Commission Report recommending the removal of parallel importation protection on books. This system was last modified in 1991, when the 30 and 90 day rules were introduced. Under these rules a publisher establishes their protection from parallel importation of a book if they publish it in Australia [...]

Continue reading...

Well-known Australian writer and political commentator, Ross Fitzgerald claims ‘the price is wrong’.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

0 Comments

Well-known Australian writer, broadcaster, historian and political commentator, Ross Fitzgerald has argued for the removal of parallel importation restrictions in the latest edition of the SPECTATOR AUSTRALIA.

Continue reading...

More Media Reports

Thursday, June 11, 2009

0 Comments

The subject of cheaper books has been on the tip of people’s tongues this week with further media reportage. Author of Parentonomics and economics professor at Melbourne Business School, Joshua Gans weighs up the pros and cons in this recent article in The Age. The ACT’s Education Minister, Andrew Barr urges for a fair go on books [...]

Continue reading...

FAQ – Do Australian Consumers care about the price of books?

Thursday, June 11, 2009

1 Comment

Yes they do and many have now voiced their concerns to the Productivity Commission. The Coalition for Cheaper Books is convinced that Australian’s care passionately about the unjustifiably high price of books. That is why we sought the views of consumers we knew already had an interest in books through the Dymocks’ Booklovers Club Members. In [...]

Continue reading...

FAQ – But why should Australians give up territorial copyright if the US and the UK don’t?

Thursday, June 11, 2009

3 Comments

Territorial copyright will still exist. Australian authors will continue to sell their rights to Australian publishers for Australian publication and in most cases those Australian publishers will sell most if not all of the copies of the book in question, sold in Australia.  What will be different with parallel importation is the publishers will not have [...]

Continue reading...

FAQ – Won’t this lead to a flood of cheap American books?

Thursday, June 11, 2009

1 Comment

Why would it? It hasn’t in New Zealand. The Australian Publishers Association’s own consultants have stated that there has been little actual parallel importing in New Zealand since the restriction on it was lifted over ten years ago. Australian’s will still want and demand quality versions of the books they love. They will still demand Australian [...]

Continue reading...

Media Reports

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

1 Comment

Read what various national media has been reporting about cheaper books: Allan Fels, the former chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and Fred Benchley, former editor of The Australian Financial Review have their say as well as outlining how everyone will benefit from cheaper books.    Bob Carr, former premier of NSW and board member of [...]

Continue reading...

Australians Voice Their Support For Cheaper Books

Thursday, May 7, 2009

2 Comments

Over 18,000 Australians have signed a Dymock’s Booklover Club Petition supporting the Coalition’s campaign to remove Parallel Importation Restrictions. This was the first time that consumers had voiced their views on the high price of books in Australia and the need to reform the outdated parallel importation restrictions to reduce the price of books for [...]

Continue reading...