Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I, and also on behalf of Senator Hanson-Young, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

  (i) the decision of the University of Melbourne Council to change the focus of Melbourne University Press away from its current 70% academic, 30% trade model, to a more narrow academic publisher of research in approved areas, and

  (ii) with concern, that this will result in Melbourne University Press no longer continuing to publish serious, topical and popular books of political, social and cultural significance, from both the academy and public thinkers and writers; and

(b) calls upon Australian universities to consider a contribution to a national, non-partisan publishing endeavour so the nation continues to have a strong, independent voice with a mandate to publish books in the public interest, through consortia similar to a funding model like that behind The Conversation.

Question agreed to.