Cheaper books would save Australians $25m a year, says Productivity Commission

Authors and publishers condemn push to repeal parallel import restrictions and say there will be fewer Australian titles

The federal government should move to make books cheaper in the next year and save Australians about $25m annually, the Productivity Commission believes, but the move is fiercely resisted by authors and some publishers who say it will mean fewer Australian titles will be available.

The recommendation to repeal parallel import restrictions – made for the eighth time – is part of its latest report to government on intellectual property arrangements, made public on Tuesday.

Related: Be under no illusion: Malcolm Turnbull wants to destroy Australian literature | Richard Flanagan

Related: Flooding Australia with imported books would be an assault on our literary culture | Michael Heyward

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