The Melbourne Writers Festival has added a special extra event to this year's line-up, a debate on the Productivity Commission's report and on the arguments for and against removing restrictions on parallel importation.
‘Never has a topic energised the publishing and writing industry as has the Productivity Commission's report,' MWF director Rosemary Cameron said. ‘The report came out after the festival program went to print so we have added an extra event - our response to the PC's report.'
The event is free, and takes place on Saturday 22 August from 7- 8pm in ACMI Cinema 2, Federation Square.
The line-up of speakers will address both sides of the argument. Mark Davis from the Department of Culture & Communications, University of Melbourne, will be in the chair and the speakers will be:
- Gabrielle Coyne, CEO, Penguin Group Australia
- Peter Donoughue, ex-managing director of John Wiley & Sons Australia and industry blogger
- Professor Allan Fels, dean of the Australian and NZ School of Government and ex-chairman of the ACCC
- Sandy Grant, CEO, Hardie Grant Books
- David Vodicka, The Rubber Group of Companies
