Print books its place at the table for book reform - BISG report

Australian book publishing taskforce releases a survival plan, putting its future in the hands of the Government and printing industry.

The wish-list drafted by the Book Industry Strategy Group (BISG) features actions needed to revive a trade facing ever more encroachment from digital media. The group made 21 recommendations to government, set out under the headings,

• Integrating the Book Supply Chains,
• Competing Effectively in the Global Book Market,
• Improving Supply Chain Efficiencies,
• Rewarding and Protecting Creativity,
• Supporting the Business Environment,
• Supporting Australian Culture.

According to group chair Barry Jones, the uptake of e-book sales is set to soar.

“The proportion of ebooks bought is currently about five per cent of the total market, but in three years, our best estimate was that the proportion is likely to increase to 25 percent. And that may be a gross understatement.”

He also pointed out that Australian publishers are unable to compete on a world stage in the delivery of online books. “Some months ago I received a 10 kilogram parcel of books from the United Kingdom, sent by airmail, and the postage was expressed in Australian dollars, as $42.60. I asked Australia Post what it would cost to post the parcel back to the United Kingdom, and the answer was $237.50, a 557 per cent differential,” he said. “Implausible as it sounds, ordering an Australian book from the United Kingdom on-line, can be cheaper than buying it from a local book shop.”

“The process of printers, publishers, authors and booksellers wrestling together with the issues, and the recommendations of our final report, are predicated on the sense that collaboration across sectors is crucial if we are to prosper.

“In an industry that's intensely competitive, collaboration will provide efficiencies and economies of scale that will create a sustainable future,” says Jones (pictured).

The digital divide is just one page in this call for publishing reform; economics is also a factor. Books sold in Australia are subject to GST, yet e-books are exempt. The BISG seeks to abolish this tax.

It also recommends cutting the current 30-day delay preventing bookstores from importing titles. This is the timeframe given to qualify for Australian publication, a book must be printed and released within this period. The clock starts once a title is first published elsewhere in the world.

The new proposal would give local book printers only 14 days to publish an Australian version of a new overseas title. To secure this reduced timeframe the taskforce has turned to the industry itself rather than the government, thereby taking legislation out of the equation.
The report also calls for the creation by government of a book industry collaboration council, which was welcomed by Printing Industries.

According to Bill Healey, CEO of Printing Industries, the association is anticipating being part of the newly proposed consultative group. “Because it’s [print] linked to the book supply chain I’d be surprised if we’re not, given our role and overall strategy.

“We look forward to working with the Government. Specifically on recommendations relating to the printing industry, to provide assistance for appropriate adjustments.

“There are risks and opportunities in the report, but more importantly it calls on the Government to ensure the book industry is sustained so that there will be ongoing benefits for the printing sector,” he says.

Online delivery is a reality and the challenge for everyone in the print market is to learn how to live with it.

“We need to ensure that our members understand the broad threats and opportunities in this changing communication and information environment. The challenge for printers and our association is to help the industry understand those changes and adjust to them,” says Healey (pictured).

He finds the explosive e-book sales increase to be a timely reminder to the sector to broaden its focus beyond the traditional into the new digital world.