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Former Labor MPs call for repeal of parallel importation restrictions

Two former Labor MPs are urging the government to remove parallel importation restrictions on books following the recommendations in the Competition Policy Review’s final report, reports the Australian.

Former trade minister Craig Emerson told the Australian: ‘There we are, still protecting multinational book publishers with authors saying this will be the end of culture in Australia—it’s absurd’.

Emerson said Labor resisted the Productivity Commission’s recommendation to remove restrictions while in government because it would have faced a ‘massive campaign’ by multinational publishers. ‘I wish the government the best of luck, because it would need to brace for the mother of all scare campaigns if it went near it,’ said Emerson.

Former foreign minister Bob Carr said: ‘My advice is that the government and opposition should simply go for it … we’ve got a new government and they should show their commitment to free markets and cheaper products.’

 

Category: Local news