Nita Green (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Tourism) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That these bills be now read a second time.

I seek leave to have the second reading speeches incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The speeches read as follows—

PUBLIC AND EDUCATIONAL LENDING RIGHTS (BETTER INCOME FOR AUTHORS) BIL1 2026

The Public and Educational Lending Rights (Better Income for Authors} Bil12026 is an important step forward in recognising and supporting Australian creators and publishers. It brings together the Public Lending Right and Educational Lending Right schemes into a single, contemporary legislative framework, replacing the Public Lending Right Act 1985 and ensuring these vital programs remain fit for purpose.

Public and educational lending rights exist for a simple and enduring reason: to ensure that Australian creators and publishers are fairly compensated when their books are made freely available through public and educational libraries. These schemes acknowledge that access to books should not come at the expense of those who create them, and they play a crucial role in sustaining Australia's writing and publishing sector.

While not everybody who writes a book seeks to be a full-time author, it is still telling that the average income in 2021-22 for an Australian writer was reportedly $16,100.

While this legislation won't turn that around, it is one of the concrete things that government can do to help.

An author's creativity is their property. It should not be stolen by those that wish to use it for other purposes. When it is read through a library loan or an educational setting, the author should be paid.

The origins of this principle are worth recalling. In 1974, Prime Minister Gough Whitlam approved the Public Lending Right scheme with a clear vision of fairness-one that recognised the value of authors' work and the importance of supporting Australian voices. More than fifty years later, that vision remains just as relevant.

In the 2024-25 financial year alone, more than 17,000 payments were made to eligible Australian creators and publishers, totalling $28.16 million. For many creators-authors, illustrators, translators, and editors-these payments are not supplementary; they are a reliable and meaningful source of income. This is particularly significant in a sector where many earn modest incomes from their creative work. Lending rights payments help make it possible for Australian stories to continue to be written, published, and shared.

This Bill also reflects the way Australians now read and borrow books. Through the National Cultural Policy, Revive, the Government has invested in modernising lending rights to include digital formats. E-books and audiobooks are now a normal part of library collections, and it is only right that creators are recognised and compensated for their use in these formats as well.

The Public and Educational Lending Rights {Better Income for Authors) Bil12026 secures these reforms in legislation and provides a clear, modern framework for the future. It ensures that our lending rights schemes continue to support Australian creators, adapt to changing technologies, and strengthen our cultural life.

PUBLIC AND EDUCATIONAL LENDING RIGHTS (BETTER INCOME FOR AUTHORS) CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS BILL 2026

The Public and Educational Lending Rights (Better Income for Authors) Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions Bill 2026 repeals the Public Lending Right Act 1985 and supports the transition to the new unified lending rights framework.

It ensures related legislation continues to operate smoothly and consistently following the passage of the primary Bill.

The Bill also provides continuity by confirming that the existing committee will continue to oversee the Public Lending Rights Scheme and will extend its role to the Educational Lending Rights Scheme, supporting transparent administration and ongoing advice to government.

Importantly, these amendments provide certainty and continuity for existing and future claimants as the schemes transition to the new legislative framework.

Together, these measures strengthen support for Australian creators and ensure the lending rights system remains clear, stable and fit for purpose.