Graham Perrett (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I, too, rise to speak on the Copyright Amendment (Online Infringement) Bill 2015. I have big shoes to fill, after that great speech from the member for Greenway. The purpose of this bill is to address the ever-increasing problem of online piracy in Australia. As mentioned by the member for Greenway, by international standards Australia's level of online piracy is, sadly, very high. In fact, according to the Choice survey, about one in three Australians has accessed data. If I think of one in three people in my electorate, say, my wife, me and let's say any other person in the chamber from Moreton, one of us three will have accessed data and I know it is not my wife or me.

But, obviously, one in three Australians is doing that, according to the Choice survey. I do not know whether that is because of our larrikin spirit or our convict links or, as the member for Greenway touched on, the fact that Australians have been shafted for such a long time when it comes to price and the timing of the shows that they want to watch. Nevertheless, irrespective of those reasons, piracy is a real threat to our creative industries. It is important that we look after our authors, directors and musicians by ensuring that they receive a fair return for their artistic endeavours. I note that this matter has been canvassed before by the member for Chifley in a previous inquiry. He raised those concerns about price and timing. I will not canvass that in this speech. Instead, I will just address the copyright legislation that is before the chamber.

However, as an author and someone who struggles with creative endeavours, I think it is important that we do look after these industries. These industries are still reeling, particularly in terms of artistic endeavours, by the recent and bizarre decision by the Attorney-General on budget night to strip $105 million from the independent, well-respected historically creative and lean Australia Council and move it into his office. I will address that matter in other forums, but I do want to focus particularly on the protection of artistic endeavours contained in this copyright amendment bill.

Obviously, piracy damages a vulnerable industry and impacts on precious Australian jobs. I have been involved in that creative process outside of being a politician both as a musician and as an author—a very ordinary musician and an author with limited financial success. Nevertheless, back in my teachers college days, I was in a band that people can track down. I had a fantastic songwriter, John Carozza, who went on to become an artist. In fact, he has a show commencing this Friday at Gallery 61, Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove. I hope to get along to that.

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