No new funding or payment increase
Coalition speakers said the bills did not increase compensation for authors or publishers, did not change payment calculations and did not attach new funding to the legislation.
Public and Educational Lending Rights (Better Income for Authors) Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions
Current status
This bill is currently before Parliament.
Policy area
Law, justice & rights
What does this bill do?
Repeals the Public Lending Right Act 1985The older Act that provided the statutory base for public lending rights and is repealed by this companion bill. as part of the move to a new combined public and educational lending rights framework.
Why was it introduced?
The bill was introduced because the main lending-rights bill replaces the old Public Lending Right Act 1985The older Act that provided the statutory base for public lending rights and is repealed by this companion bill. and brings public and educational lending rights into a single legislative framework. This companion bill deals with the handover: it repeals the old Act, protects existing payment rights and pending claims, carries the old committee into the new committeeThe new committee under the main 2026 Act that takes over relevant functions from the old Public Lending Right Committee., and gives the Minister a limited power to make transitional rulesExtra rules the Minister can make by legislative instrument to handle handover issues, subject to limits such as no offences, taxes, search powers or direct amendments to the Act. if practical issues arise.
Broader context
Australia already had public lending rights in legislation and educational lending rights operating administratively. The lending-rights package was presented as a modernisation of that system: the primary bill creates the new combined framework, while this bill makes the legal handover work. Debate was broadly supportive, but Coalition speakers stressed that the package mainly changes structure and administration rather than adding a new funding pool or changing payment calculations.
Key criticism
The bill passed with broad support, but Coalition speakers argued that the title and public presentation could overstate its practical income effect. Their central criticism was that the package improves legal certainty and administration, but does not itself add new funding, change payment calculations or fully answer the wider income pressures facing Australian authors.
Who supported it?
Tony Burke MP introduced this bill. Supportive speeches so far have come from Labor, Liberal Party.
Introduced in House 01 Apr 2026
Passed House 13 May 2026
Passed Senate 14 May 2026
Not yet law —
Did it become law?
Not yet
Final passage
No final vote yet
The bill has not yet completed passage through Parliament.
Days since introduction
70 days
Updated 10 June 2026.
Meaning
What does this bill do?
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Repeals the Public Lending Right Act 1985The older Act that provided the statutory base for public lending rights and is repealed by this companion bill. as part of the move to a new combined public and educational lending rights framework.
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Keeps the old Public Lending RightA Commonwealth scheme that pays eligible Australian creators and publishers when their books are held in public libraries. Scheme operating for existing entitlements, earlier committee decisions, some review outcomes and payments made around the transition.
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Moves the old Public Lending RightA Commonwealth scheme that pays eligible Australian creators and publishers when their books are held in public libraries. Committee’s transition work to the new Public and Educational Lending Rights CommitteeThe new committee under the main 2026 Act that takes over relevant functions from the old Public Lending Right Committee..
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Transfers existing Public Lending RightA Commonwealth scheme that pays eligible Australian creators and publishers when their books are held in public libraries. Committee members into equivalent roles on the new committeeThe new committee under the main 2026 Act that takes over relevant functions from the old Public Lending Right Committee., while counting their past service toward the new nine-year term limit.
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Treats unresolved old-scheme claims as claims under the new scheme, preserves final annual reporting, and lets the Minister make limited transitional rulesExtra rules the Minister can make by legislative instrument to handle handover issues, subject to limits such as no offences, taxes, search powers or direct amendments to the Act. by legislative instrument.
Show source excerpts
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The Bill will also repeal the Public Lending Right Act 1985.
Public and Educational Lending Rights (Better Income for Authors) Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions explanatory memorandum -
continue in force on and after that commencement in relation to the following: (a) a person’s entitlement to a payment under the old scheme that arose before that commencement; (b) a decision
Public and Educational Lending Rights (Better Income for Authors) Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions as-passed bill text -
any function or power conferred on the old committee is deemed to be a function or power conferred on the new committee.
Public and Educational Lending Rights (Better Income for Authors) Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions explanatory memorandum -
the former Public Lending Right Committee members will, by operation of Item 3, transition to the new Public and Educational Lending Rights Committee.
Public and Educational Lending Rights (Better Income for Authors) Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions explanatory memorandum -
This item confers a power for the Minister to make additional rules, by legislative instrument, relating to the transition subject to clear limitations.
Public and Educational Lending Rights (Better Income for Authors) Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions explanatory memorandum
Context
Broader context for this bill
Australia already had public lending rights in legislation and educational lending rights operating administratively. The lending-rights package was presented as a modernisation of that system: the primary bill creates the new combined framework, while this bill makes the legal handover work. Debate was broadly supportive, but Coalition speakers stressed that the package mainly changes structure and administration rather than adding a new funding pool or changing payment calculations.
- 1974
Public Lending RightA Commonwealth scheme that pays eligible Australian creators and publishers when their books are held in public libraries. scheme begins
Government speakers described the Public Lending RightA Commonwealth scheme that pays eligible Australian creators and publishers when their books are held in public libraries. scheme as originating under the Whitlam government to recognise authors when their works are held in libraries.
Second reading debate ↗ - 1985
Public Lending RightA Commonwealth scheme that pays eligible Australian creators and publishers when their books are held in public libraries. Act becomes the old statutory base
The Public Lending Right Act 1985The older Act that provided the statutory base for public lending rights and is repealed by this companion bill. became the legislation that this companion bill later repeals as part of the move to a replacement framework.
Explanatory memorandum ↗ - 2000-01
Educational Lending RightA Commonwealth scheme for payments linked to books held in educational libraries, such as school libraries. operates as a program
Coalition speakers said the Educational Lending RightA Commonwealth scheme for payments linked to books held in educational libraries, such as school libraries. was established in the 2000-01 budget and, unlike public lending rights, operated administratively rather than under its own Act.
Second reading debate ↗ - 2023
Revive cultural policy drives lending-rights modernisation
Debate linked the lending-rights package to the National Cultural Policy, Revive, including earlier funding to extend recognition to ebooks and audiobooks.
Second reading debate ↗ - 2024-25
Lending-rights payments remain a live income issue
Speakers cited more than 17,600 payments totalling $28.16 million in 2024-25, while also noting that the bills did not create a new funding pool.
Second reading debate ↗ - 01 Apr 2026
Companion bill introduced with the main lending-rights bill
Tony Burke introduced the transitional bill to repeal the 1985 ActThe older Act that provided the statutory base for public lending rights and is repealed by this companion bill. and support the shift to the new unified lending-rights framework.
Parliamentary timeline ↗ - 14 May 2026
Parliament passes the companion bill
Both houses passed the bill without recorded amendments, completing parliamentary passage of the transitional machinery for the lending-rights package.
Parliamentary timeline ↗
Legislative route
How did it move through Parliament?
House Senate
Introduced 01 Apr 2026
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
Second reading opened 01 Apr 2026
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
Second reading debate 12 May 2026
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Sent to Federation Chamber for debate 12 May 2026
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Referred to Federation Chamber
Second reading debate 13 May 2026
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House second reading agreed 13 May 2026
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
Returned from Federation Chamber 13 May 2026
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Reported from Federation Chamber
House third reading agreed 13 May 2026
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Introduced 14 May 2026
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
Second reading opened 14 May 2026
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
Second reading debate 14 May 2026
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate second reading agreed 14 May 2026
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
Senate third reading agreed 14 May 2026
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Passed both houses 14 May 2026
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Finally passed both Houses
Key criticism
The main case against this bill
The bill passed with broad support, but Coalition speakers argued that the title and public presentation could overstate its practical income effect. Their central criticism was that the package improves legal certainty and administration, but does not itself add new funding, change payment calculations or fully answer the wider income pressures facing Australian authors.
Criticism focused on scope and funding expectations, not on opposing the transition to a unified lending-rights framework.
Better income title seen as overstated
Critics argued that, despite the title, the legislation mainly delivers structural and administrative reform rather than a direct income boost for authors.
Broader author income pressures remain
Speakers supporting the bill still said authors face rising costs, changing publishing models and global digital competition, and that lending-rights payments are only one part of author support.
Further sources
Votes
Recorded votes
No recorded votes have been found yet for this bill.
Parliamentary debate
Who spoke, and what they said
Start here — lead voices
Sponsor speech Supports
Tony Burke
Tony Burke introduced the companion bill as the transitional machinery for the new unified lending-rights framework, saying it repeals the 1985 ActThe older Act that provided the statutory base for public lending rights and is repealed by this companion bill., keeps related legislation operating smoothly and carries the existing committee into the expanded public and educational lending-rights role.
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead supporting voice Supports
Mary Aldred
Mary Aldred supported the bills, describing them as a practical modernisation of schemes that balance free public access to books with recognition for the writers and publishers who create them.
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead voice Supports
Carina Garland
Carina Garland supported the bills, focusing on modernising lending rights for how Australians now borrow books, including ebooks and audiobooks, while maintaining public access through libraries.
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead voice Supports
Tom French
Tom French supported the bills, framing lending rights as recognition and payment for creators when Australian books are freely available through public and educational libraries.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
Labor
12 speakers · 12 support
Labor
12 speakers · 12 support
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Carina Garland ★ Carina Garland supported the bills, focusing on modernising lending rights for how Australians now borrow books, including ebooks and audiobooks, while maintaining public access through libraries.
“Australians increasingly borrow ebooks and audiobooks alongside traditionally printed works”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Tom French ★ Tom French supported the bills, framing lending rights as recognition and payment for creators when Australian books are freely available through public and educational libraries.
“when Australian books are made freely available through public and educational libraries”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Josh Wilson Josh Wilson supported the package, saying it would help update lending rights for public and educational libraries while recognising the value of Australian writers and publishers.
“remarks in support of the Public and Educational Lending Rights (Better Income for Authors) Bill 2026”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Louise Miller-Frost Louise Miller-Frost supported the bills as part of Revive, saying a thriving literary culture depends on financially supporting the writers and creators at its centre.
“This bill is part of the Albanese Labor government's national cultural policy, Revive.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Jo Briskey Jo Briskey supported the package as part of the Revive cultural policy, emphasising that authors do invisible creative work and that lending-rights reform should make support for writers clearer and more sustainable.
“At the heart of Revive is a commitment to the people who make culture”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Ed Husic Ed Husic supported the package, placing it in the history of public lending rights and arguing that Australian writers deserve recognition for the cultural value of their work.
“we put a value on the contribution, the thought and the fact that Australian writers considered the Australian experience”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Susan Templeman Susan Templeman supported the bills and pointed to longstanding advocacy from the Australian Society of Authors for lending-rights schemes to be updated.
“Australia's lending rights schemes have fallen out of date and urgently require an upgrade”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Kara Cook Kara Cook supported the bills, describing lending rights as a way to value creative work and continuing the public lending-right tradition that began under the Whitlam government.
“This legislation is also about recognising that creative work has economic value.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Rowan Holzberger Rowan Holzberger supported the main bill and associated companion bill, arguing that Australian authors and publishers should be recognised when their works are available through libraries.
“I rise in support of the Public and Educational Lending Rights (Better Income for Authors) Bill 2026 and the associated bill.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Sam Lim Sam Lim supported the lending-rights package, linking it to the importance of Australian stories, local authors and libraries as places where communities can share those stories.
“it is important to share stories like Cristy's and Shirley's—and share them widely—in our community”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Nita Green Nita Green moved the second reading in the Senate and had the speeches incorporated, presenting the companion bill as ensuring continuity while the old public lending-rights framework is replaced.
“supports the transition to the new unified lending rights framework”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Tony Burke ★ Tony Burke introduced the companion bill as the transitional machinery for the new unified lending-rights framework, saying it repeals the 1985 ActThe older Act that provided the statutory base for public lending rights and is repealed by this companion bill., keeps related legislation operating smoothly and carries the existing committee into the expanded public and educational lending-rights role.
“repeals the Public Lending Right Act 1985 and supports the transition to the new unified lending rights framework.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Coalition
3 speakers · 1 support · 2 mixed
Coalition
3 speakers · 1 support · 2 mixed
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Mary Aldred ★ Mary Aldred supported the bills, describing them as a practical modernisation of schemes that balance free public access to books with recognition for the writers and publishers who create them.
“we must also recognise the work of the people who create them”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Angie Bell Angie Bell said the Coalition would support the bills as sensible administrative reforms, but argued they do not increase funding, change payment calculations or by themselves deliver better income for authors.
“they are sensible, non-controversial measures that update the governance and administration of important schemes”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Susan McDonald Susan McDonald said the Coalition supported the bills as non-controversial governance reforms, but criticised the absence of new funding or payment changes and said author income pressures would remain.
“it primarily delivers structural and administrative change, not increased financial support”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
Full record
- Status
- Passed Both Houses -- Collected from the APH bill page.
- Originating house
- House of Representatives
- Amendments
- No recorded amendments -- No proposed amendments or recorded outcomes were collected for this bill.
- Financial impact
- Nil additional financial impact -- Stated in the explanatory memorandum for this companion bill.
- 01 Apr 2026
House · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
- 01 Apr 2026
House · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
- 12 May 2026
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 12 May 2026
House · Referred to Federation Chamber
Referred to Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 13 May 2026
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 13 May 2026
House · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
- 13 May 2026
House · Reported from Federation Chamber
Reported from Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 13 May 2026
House · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
- 14 May 2026
Senate · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
- 14 May 2026
Senate · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
- 14 May 2026
Senate · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 14 May 2026
Senate · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
- 14 May 2026
Senate · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
- 14 May 2026
Parliament · Finally passed both Houses
Passed both houses
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.