Australian Government To Retain Import Restrictions On Books
CANBERRA -(Dow Jones)- Existing import restrictions on books will be
maintained after the government rejected a recommendation from the Productivity
Commission that the restrictions be removed.
The restrictions prevent booksellers from importing a title if a local
publisher owns copyright and can supply it within 30 days of its release
overseas.
"In the circumstances of intense competition from online books and e-books,
the Government judged that changing the regulations governing book imports is
unlikely to have any material effect on the availability of books in Australia,"
Competition Policy Minister Craig Emerson said in the statement.
If books can't be made available in a timely fashion and at a competitive
price, customers will opt for on-line sales and e-books, he said.
Those wanting an end to import restrictions, including a number of major
Australian retailers, argued this would result in lower prices and increase the
availability and accessibility of books.
The Productivity Commission report acknowledged that removing the import
restrictions would adversely affect Australian authors, publishers and culture,
Emerson said.
-By Ray Brindal, Dow Jones Newswires; 612-6208-0902; ray.brindal@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
11-10-091720ET
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