Peter Carnavas, children's author/illustrator speaks out

Peter Carnavas is a popular name in the children's book world. Today, he speaks out in support of keeping the Restrictions against Parallel Importation of Books.

As a children's author/illustrator, I know the huge impact that my books and other Australian books have on children, inspiring them to develop a love of reading.

 

If PIRs are removed, so many Australians will lose out - authors, illustrators, publishers, independent booksellers, teachers, librarians, parents and, most of all, children. It is a move that will only disadvantage these stakeholders and weaken Australian culture.

I am just one of hundreds of Australian children's book creators that would be forced to reconsider the viability of making children's literature.

We already receive minimal earnings, dedicating ourselves to what we do through our passion for promoting literature and stories to children.

This decision would cripple our efforts to put wonderful stories into the hands of Australian kids.

SIGN THE PETITION NOW!

Please SIGN and SHARE the official Australian Society of Authors 

PETITION AGAINST PARALLEL IMPORTATION OF BOOKS.

'Removing PIRS threatens local authors'. Australian Society of Authors

Australian Society of Authors chair, David Day said removing PIRs threatens local authors and allows ‘the publishers of London and New York to get an even tighter grip on the Australian book market’.

‘Authors have already been hit hard by a big drop in book prices, which has caused an average halving of their writing income over the last decade,’ said Day. ‘Using academic theories about competition to interfere in the creation of Australian culture is sure to make the situation of authors even worse.’

Day added that ‘if authors’ incomes are reduced any further, some will be discouraged from writing altogether’. ‘It is self-defeating for the government to introduce a measure that will adversely affect local authors, bookshops and publishers for a hypothetical reduction in book prices,’ said Day.

Federal Government threat to lift Parallel Importation Restrictions on Books ... again

Concerned Australians won this same battle against lifting the Restrictions in 2009, but we did not win the war. Now the Federal Government is pushing for opening up Parallel Imports again - deadline set for mid-2016.