The ASA does not believe that further tightening of the Classification Review Board guidelines will deliver the outcomes the attorney-general seeks. Rather, we believe that, for those who write serious non-fiction and fiction that contributes to national debate and cultural consciousness, the tightened provisions will have the effect of limiting their ability to publish and earn an income from publication of works that express political opinion. This matter is of extreme concern to our members. As a matter of principle, the ASA upholds the right of citizens of this country to have open access to a wide range of views in an environment where open debate and frank appraisal of diverging opinions is considered to be fundamental.

Authors are responsible members of the Australian community. In a recent survey of one hundred living ‘significant Australian public intellectuals’ conducted by the Sydney Morning Herald, over twenty per cent were members of the ASA. Authors are clearly capable of exercising judgment on material that is seditious or could be considered harmful to Australia’s sovereignty.

The further restrictions that the attorney-general is proposing are of very serious concern to Australian authors. We would therefore welcome the opportunity to discuss the fundamental importance of open debate of the political, social and cultural issues that underpin the responsible and professional writing activities undertaken by the members of the ASA, and which are under serious threat from the changes that are being proposed.