Kara Cook (Bonner, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to speak in support of the Public and Educational Lending Rights (Better Income for Authors) Bill 2026, legislation that recognises the value of Australian storytelling and the people who bring those stories to life.

Libraries are one of the great public institutions in our country. They open doors to imagination, education and opportunities for Australians of every background and every generation. They are places where children discover a love of reading for the very first time. They are places where students access knowledge and learning resources regardless of their circumstances. They are places where older Australians stay connected to their communities and where people can access information, ideas and stories freely and openly.

But, while books may be borrowed freely through public and educational libraries, the work behind those books is not free. Behind every novel, textbook, audiobook or children's story is an Australian creator whose work, talent and time deserve to be recognised. This bill does exactly that. The public and educational lending right schemes ensure Australian book creators and publishers are compensated for the loss of income that can occur through the free multiple use of their work in Australian public and educational lending libraries. This includes authors, illustrators, editors, translators, compilers and publishers, all of whom contribute enormously to Australia's cultural and literary landscape.

The Public Lending Right Scheme was first established by the Whitlam Labor government in 1974 to ensure more support made its way into the pockets of Australian authors, publishers and illustrators. It reflected an important principle then, and it remains an important principle today—that creators deserve fair recognition and fair compensation for their work. This bill continues that proud Labor legacy of supporting Australian arts, culture and storytelling.

Australian literature matters, Australian stories matter, and Australian creators matter. Australia's literature sector is home to some of the country's greatest storytellers—people who help shape our national identity, reflect our communities and tell uniquely Australian stories. Whether it is fiction, poetry, educational resources, historical writing or children's literature, Australian writers help Australians see themselves and their communities reflected in literature. These works are not just entertainment; they help preserve culture. They build empathy and understanding. They strengthen literacy and education. They challenge ideas and encourage curiosity. And, of course, they connect our communities. Australian children deserve to grow up reading Australian stories written by Australian authors about Australian experiences. They deserve to see Australian suburbs, humour, landscapes and voices reflected in the books they read because, when young people see their own communities, landscapes and voices reflected on the page, it tells them that their stories matter too. When these stories are shared through our libraries and educational institutions, it is only fair that the creators behind those works are recognised and supported.

This bill consolidates the public lending right and educational lending right schemes into a single legislative framework, creating a more modern, streamlined and coherent system. Importantly, it also establishes the Educational Lending Right Scheme and legislation for the very first time. Currently, the Educational Lending Right Scheme operates administratively without a legislative basis. This bill changes that. The legislation also modernises governance arrangements. It establishes a new public and educational lending rights committee with a more modern appointment process and disclosure requirements. It clarifies the committee's advisory role and transfers some operational decision-making processes to the secretary, formalising arrangements that are already occurring administratively. These reforms are about ensuring the scheme remains effective, accountable and fit for purpose into the future.

Another important aspect of this legislation is that it reflects the changing ways Australians engage with literature. Australians are increasingly reading digitally, whether through ebooks or audiobooks borrowed through local libraries and educational institutions. Consistent with the Albanese Labor government's national cultural policy, Revive, the schemes were expanded in 2023 to include ebooks and audiobooks. This legislation supports and embeds that modernised framework, and this is important because Australians do not engage with literature in the same way they did decades ago. Technology has changed the way people read, learn and access information. Students increasingly access educational material digitally, families borrow audiobooks for long drives and school drop-offs—I aspire for mine to be one of those families!—and older Australians use ebooks with adjustable text and accessible technology. People are engaging with literature in more ways than ever before, and our legislative framework should reflect that reality. This bill helps ensure the lending rights framework keeps pace with this modern publishing and library environment.

Literacy and reading remain absolutely fundamental to opportunity in Australia. The ability to read, learn and engage with literature shapes educational outcomes, employment opportunities and lifelong wellbeing.

This legislation is also about recognising that creative work has economic value. Too often we speak about the arts purely in cultural terms without recognising that writers, illustrators and publishers are workers too. They deserve fair remuneration for the contribution they make to our economy, our education system and our national culture. Writing is absolutely work, publishing is work, illustration is work, editing is work, translation is work, and these creators deserve to be supported. Labor has always understood this. We know that strong arts and cultural sectors do not happen by accident; they require investment recognition and support for the people who create and share Australian stories. This government is committed to ensuring Australian writers, publishers and creators are supported not only to preserve our culture but also to continue telling the stories that shape our national identity. This bill is part of that commitment.

In 2024-25 alone, more than 17,000 payments totalling over $28 million were made to eligible creators and publishers through these schemes. That included more than $14.7 million in public lending right payments and more than $13.3 million in educational lending right payments. These are not abstract numbers. These payments help Australian creators continue doing the work that they love. They help support authors writing their next novel. They help educational publishers continue producing Australian educational content. They help illustrators, translators and editors continue contributing to Australia's literary sector. Importantly, they help ensure Australian voices continue to be heard.

This bill is also part of the Albanese Labor government's broader commitment to supporting Australian arts and culture. That commitment is reflected through Revive, the government's national cultural policy, which recognises the importance of supporting the Australian creative industries and Australian cultural identity. It is also reflected in the establishment of Writing Australia within Creative Australia to become a dedicated hub supporting writers, publishers and the broader literature sector. Labor understands that supporting Australian literature means supporting Australian voices, and we understand that if we want Australian stories to continue being told, we must support the people who create them.

In communities like mine in Bonner, in Queensland, libraries continue to play an incredibly important role. They are welcoming community spaces used by families, students, seniors and local residents each and every day. The Wynnum Library and Carindale Library are spaces that I and my family enjoy visiting regularly. They provide access to education, technology, information and literature regardless of a person's income or background. Local libraries host children's reading programs, community activities, study spaces and lifelong learning opportunities. They are places of inclusion and places of connection. Through this bill, we are ensuring that the creators whose work fills those shelves—Brisbane authors like Trent Dalton, Nick Earls and Rebecca Sparrow—are properly recognised and supported.

This bill strikes a vital balance. It preserves free public access to books and literature through our libraries while ensuring Australian creators and publishers receive fair compensation for their work. It modernises an important framework, it supports Australian storytelling and it reflects the way Australians engage with literature today. It continues Labor's proud legacy of supporting Australian arts and culture. I commend this bill.

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