When the Federal Government released the Harper Review into competition in April, hidden among the dozens of recommendations regarding retail, online sales, cars and liquor licensing was one which promises to change the cultural landscape: a recommendation to remove parallel import restrictions on books.
The recommendation, which will see Australian publishers face increased competition from overseas publishers, was entirely consistent with the Harper Review’s overall thrust to deregulate the Australian market and open up business to a level competitive playing field, particularly in the face of online shopping and a global marketplace.
