Published: 26 April, 2022

Australians have been called to the ballot box. Books Create Australia has prepared an agenda of the outcomes and policy changes that we think will benefit Australia’s writers, publishers, booksellers, libraries, and readers.

The most important outcome is that Australia remains a nation of readers. Reading is a habit that pays personal, educational, civic, and economic dividends to both the individual reader and the country – and our leaders play a vital role in growing and supporting a reading nation.

Government must take a strategic approach to the development of literature, the book industry and reading. Australia Council funding for literature has fallen by 40% in the past decade; it is indicative of a need for a more coordinated approach to policy.

We need a national plan, a pipeline for new Australian stories, sustainable careers for our writers. We need to take Australian stories to the world through a modern Australian book industry, and we believe that Australian content in schools is vital.

In the lead-up to the election, the partners in Books Create Australia will be taking these messages to their members, to other stakeholders, and to candidates.  

Seven recommendations for Government

  1. Develop a national plan for books and reading.
  2. Fund an ongoing national reading campaign.
  3. Increase grant funds for new writing, new talent and First Nations’ stories. 
  4. Reform Lending Rights, including boosting funding.
  5. Fund a whole-of-industry digitised supply chain and data solution.
  6. Help take Australian voices to the world and support the development of global markets.
  7. Mandate Australian content in schools and provide more support for school libraries.

 

You can download our Election 2022 recommendations as a two-page flyer, detailing how the Federal Government might best support books and writing.

Books Create Australia is a joint initiative of the Australian Libraries and Information Association, Australian Publishers Association, Australian Society for Authors and Australian Bookseller Association.