Saving Australia’s bookshops

Discount restrictions: Some writers in Australia have called for the government to introduce fixed pricing for books.

BOOKSHOPS in Australia are struggling to survive due to heavy discounting by supermarkets and online sellers, prompting calls for the government to introduce measures such as tax breaks, student book vouchers and price controls.

According to the Australian Booksellers Association (ABA), there are now just 600 bookshops in Australia, down from 895 in 2001.