Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

(i) the World Blind Union estimates that currently only 5 per cent of all published books in the developed countries and less than 1 per cent in developing countries are ever produced in accessible formats for persons who are blind, visually impaired, or otherwise print disabled,

(ii) the Marrakesh Treaty, which facilitates access to published works for these persons, closes for signature on 26 June 2014,

(iii) the instrumental work Australia did during the Marrakesh Treaty negotiations, and

(iv) the Australian Government is yet to sign the treaty despite Australia's major trading partners, including China, the United States, the European Union and Indonesia having already signed; and

(b) calls on the Government to sign, and ratify the Marrakesh Treaty.

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Alan Ferguson (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This Marrakesh Treaty is critically important for visually impaired people right across the globe. Only one to seven per cent of all the books that have been published have been converted to a form that makes them accessible to those of us who are visually impaired. This treaty seeks to try and remove one of the main impediments to providing this material to the visually impaired in that it looks at tackling the copyright restrictions that have caused this situation to occur. About 65 countries so far have signed up to be initial signatories. Although we have had some discussions with the government in the past week, and I understand they are on their way to signing this treaty, we feel it is very important that Australia is one of the initial signatories, given how critical this is to the visually impaired across the planet. It is a fantastic initiative and we would encourage the government to get on board and sign it.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Alan Ferguson (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is an important issue that should be above politics, but the Australian Greens, it looks, are seeking to score points here. The government will make an announcement on the Marrakesh treaty in the next few days. I do understand that the Australian Greens were made aware of this last week and still decided to pursue this motion. The government will not be opposing this motion. I would like to take the opportunity to remind the Senate that parliament has an important role to play in determining whether the Australian government should ratify a treaty, including consideration by the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, of which I know Senator Ludlam is a member. Unlike those who are proposing this motion, this government does not and will not presume to predict the outcome of the deliberations of this parliament.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Alan Ferguson (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The opposition will be strongly supporting this motion. We believe that the importance around the issues of the Marrakesh treaty need to be discussed in this place and acknowledged in this place. We put on record our support for this motion.

Question agreed to.