Known as parallel importing, importing goods directly from overseas suppliers lowers costs and increases supply, which is what Australia’s electric vehicle market needs to catch up with the world.
They’re still often more expensive overseas than in Australia.
HelMet-kirjasto/Flickr
The copyright wars are set to continue, with the government releasing a Productivity Commission report arguing for a relaxation of intellectual property laws.
If the government decides to remove regional trade protections on the book industry, it should compensate Australian authors. But given how unlikely new funding would be, the best option – for everyone – is to leave well enough alone.
Parallel import restrictions are bad for Australian consumers, and not the best way to support Australian books.
wiredforlego/flickr.com
The uniquely Australian literary voice is worth protecting, but parallel importation restrictions are not the way to do it. Rather, we should lift those restrictions – and subsidise Australian booksellers directly.
The issue of parallel imports will not go away – but there are other options to explore.
Mustafa Sayed
Our contemporary age may be the first in which parallel importation is undertaken not by booksellers in competition with each other, but by individual consumers in competition with local booksellers.
Publishers need to stop indulging in apocalyptic fantasies of doom and destruction.
Kevin O'Mara
The Australian government yesterday announced it intends to repeal parallel importation restrictions on books, which has again caused concern in the publishing industry. But, really, what’s the problem?
It’s never made sense that Australians pay more for books that those in the US.
Image sourced from Shutterstock.com
The government has agreed to the Harper competition review recommendation on parallel imports on books, but there’s still a long way to go on IP reform.