Comments on: Ozlit forced onto dole queue …

By: Robyn Webb

Robyn Webb — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:00:36 +0000

I just sent a detailed review to a few MPs. My document is here: http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0Bzeo8YnnOA-VYjllNTUyNjItNGIyYi00OGU0LWI2YTQtNGY4MjM4MThiMjQ1&hl=en

Basically, the report doesn’t demonstrate that differences in book prices are caused by PIRs in the first place.

My review is free for downloading, sharing, distributing, referencing etc.

By: Kate Eltham

Kate Eltham — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:04:33 +0000

Fantastic post, Meg. This is very serious, and shows a poor understanding of the book sector by the Productivity Commission. Firstly, lower prices are not the likely outcome. We have only to look across the ditch at New Zealand where lower prices did not result from the removal of PIR. Secondly, even if lower book prices could be guaranteed (and even the Commission cautions that it’s not certain), it does not equal more or better competition. It only means that a smaller selection of mass market titles from the US would be cheaper … at the expense of a diverse Australian bookselling sector, small businesses, jobs, oh, yes, and author income.

By: Meg

Meg — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 05:57:45 +0000

What gets me is Bob Carr has always been Mr ‘User-pays’ – he’s suddenly changed his tune, and with such blatant self-interest.

I have even resorted to snail mail to express my concerns to my local representitives. I urge all Speakeasy readers to do the same – a letter carries more weight than an email.

By: Bruce Rogers

Bruce Rogers — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 03:23:54 +0000

Typical – they are selling the farm in Queensland – now they are selling out the literary sector – we need some big sticks to whack the idiots over the head.

By: Australian Authors, please bend over « Angela Slatter

Australian Authors, please bend over « Angela Slatter — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 02:02:30 +0000

[...] Read the rest here http://blog.awmonline.com.au/2009/07/15/ozlit-forced-onto-dole-queue/. [...]