Crikey readers weigh in on John Howard’s involvement in East Timor’s independence, the lobbyist to MP ratio and Senator Steve Fielding’s spelling.
Productivity Commission
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Paul Kelly, John Howard and East Timor
Publishing ban not expected to be lifted
Although the ALP conference has been largely stage managed, one thing is clear: if the government decides to lift the ban on the parallel importation of books, it will be strongly opposed, says Phillip Coorey.
Menadue: five health reforms we really need
There are five critical issues that should be addressed by National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission.
Literature? What’s that got to do with the price of books?
In all the talk of the Productivity Commission and the price of publishing, we shouldn’t forget that a book is not a novel. We shouldn’t be focusing on the container, but the content.
Victorian government gets behind authors
Victorian Premier John Brumby, often regarded as a pro-market economic rationalist, has slammed the Productivity Commission’s call to end protection of the local book industry. In fact, it’s state policy.
Guy Rundle: Book parallel import restrictions a ludicrous anachronism
The “remainder” problem for Oz authors obviously has to be addressed — and it’s an area the Productivity Commission has barely addressed.
The future book industry: barns filled with remainders
The Productivity Commission is not interested in culture. Or writing. Or books, writes Sophie Cunningham.
Battle of the books turns political
The Productivity Commission has recommended the removal of parallel import restrictions on books. So the issue will be politicised. And the battleground is likely to be jobs.
Also on Crikey
Shane Maloney: I am a leech on my readers
PC goes all the way: Get rid of book restrictions
The Productivity Commission has found that parallel imports for books are significantly more costly than previously considered. Its final report recommends the restrictions be abolished.
MORE READING
- DAVID MARR: The Commission’s language problem
- Michael R James: Parallel this: Top Ten books compared
- BOB CARR: A win for Australian literacy
Readers have nothing to fear from the Productivity Commission
“The country’s most articulate lobby” they were called yesterday: the array of writers aligned against deregulation of Australia’s $2.5b book industry. Really? asks Bernard Keane.
Parallel this: Top Ten book prices compared
Many words have poured forth over the imminent decision by the Productivity Commission on parallel-importation of books into Australia. Michael R. James takes a look at the actual data.
“Closing the Gap” is like wrestling with smoke
As yet another round of headlines emerge about lack of progress on indigenous health and social indicators, the “Closing the Gap” initiative can look more than ever like wrestling with smoke.
Executive pay: global talent myth debunked
A research paper has rejected one of the great myths perpetuated by company directors — that Australian executives need to be paid millions of dollars to prevent them from leaving.
A Crikey cure for outlandish executive pay
Submissions continue at the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into executive pay. Adam Schwab cuts to the chase.
Whatever happens to the ETS, it represents colossal failure
There are three possible outcomes for the Government’s emissions trading bill and all of them indicate failure.
Mother’s Day Budget must honour working women
The Productivity Commission draft report has recommended 18 weeks pay at the minimum wage as a government-funded parental leave provision, writes Liz Conor.
Meanjin: Productivity Commission committing cultural sabotage
If you don’t care about the survival of independent publishing in Australia, perhaps the Commission’s recommendations won’t bother you. If you do, they should, writes Sophie Cunningham.
Dymocks: throwing the book at parallel importing
There’s something a little coy about Dymocks’ current campaign for the parallel importation of books into Australia.
Latest review of book imports: a completely unsatisfying read
The Productivity Commission believes it does not actually need figures and hard evidence to properly review the restrictions on parallel imports on books, writes Danielle Clode.
Australian pork industry set to go belly up?
A surge in imports is undermining the local pork industry, writes Khalil Hegarty, senior consultant at ITS Global.
Discounting the Productivity Commission on Stern
The Productivity Commission’s clear attempt this morning to influence the outcome of the Garnaut Review may be couched in detached and academic language, but its implications are profound, says Green Senator Christine Milne
Cutting tariffs: short-term pain, long-term gain
Cutting tariffs below their current levels will of course harm the car industry. That’s actually how tariff cuts have helped economic growth in the last decade – by slowly moving resources from lower productivity industries to higher productivity industries, writes Nick Gruen.
