5/06/2026

Publishers respond to National Cultural Policy consultation

The APA Board thanks the publishing houses, and the individuals within them, who made submissions to the Australian Government’s National Cultural Policy consultation and helped ensure government hears directly from publishers about the value of Australian books and local publishing capability.

Submissions closed just over a fortnight ago, with more than 2,600 submissions received across all arts sectors — more than double the 2022 total.

The APA lodged its own submission and contributed to the Books Create Australia submission alongside ABA, ASA, ALIA and Australia Reads, with support from 16 additional literary and book sector organisations. APA and Books Create Australia also made representations to Writing Australia on 15 May.

Submissions are now being uploaded in batches for viewing on the consultation website. The APA will continue its advocacy with government and sector partners over the coming months.

Parliament backs modernised lending rights

In mid-May, Federal Parliament approved legislation bringing Public Lending Right and Educational Lending Right together under one Act, formally enshrining Educational Lending Right for the first time.

Introducing the legislation, Arts Minister Tony Burke said public and educational lending rights exist “to ensure that Australian creators and publishers are fairly paid when their books are made freely available through public and educational libraries”. He described the reform as “one of the concrete things that government can do to help”.

The debate showed strong bipartisan support for lending rights and the value of books, reading, libraries, Australian stories and fair remuneration. Coalition speakers, including Mary Aldred MP and Senator Susan McDonald, supported the bills while noting they modernise the schemes without increasing the funding pool. Susan Templeman MP captured the principle neatly: “libraries should be free” but writers should not have to “survive on gratitude alone”.

The APA welcomes the changes, including legislative recognition of Educational Lending Right, and remains in contact with the Government on appropriate compensation levels given the high use of Australian books in public and school libraries. The APA and ASA have also called for an uplift in lending rights payments as part of the next iteration of the National Cultural Policy.

APA joins AI copyright call

On 22 May, the APA joined 17 other creator and content organisations in a statement urging the Government to “hold the line” against any copyright exception for AI platforms, following news reports that copyright law could be reopened as part of negotiations with AI companies seeking investment in Australia.

The joint statement says Australian creative works are not a bargaining chip and should not be used without consent, licensing and payment.

Its message is clear: licensing deals, not copyright carve-outs.