The Australian Booksellers Association (ABA) has urged its members to contact their local member of parliament and make the case for reform. ‘If you are aligned with the Australian Booksellers Association's position and have supported the retention of restrictions, but have still called for some reform then your voice is needed right now,' it said.
The Coalition for Cheaper Books, led by the Dymocks bookselling chain, which has consistently argued for an open market, has now also said it will support a compromise position.
‘The Coalition has been working with government on the potential for compromise positions,' Dymocks CEO Don Grover told WBN. ‘We still believe that reform is necessary and we are aligned in principle with the ABA on the need for reform and the need to find a suitable compromise position that achieves reform.'
The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) reported that the Coalition was ultimately prepared to support a compromise that ‘does not go as far as a Productivity Commission recommendation to end restrictions on book imports'.
