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Australian Library and Information Association is responding to the Early Childhood Learning element of the Productivity Commission Issues Paper, with the aim of: securing explicit acknowledgement of the role of Australian public libraries in early childhood development in the final report to Government (31 October 2014), and encouraging discussion to identify further opportunities for the national network of 1500 public libraries to be used by federal, state and local government to support early childhood learning provision.

The Australian Library and Information Association's submission in response to the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA)  Higher Education Standards Panel call for comment.

Australian Library and Information Association's purpose in submitting this paper is to join colleagues from other professional associations in opposing the Australian Government’s proposal to cap self education expenses at $2,000, as planned in the 2013-14 Budget.

This submission recommends: Amendments to the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth), as it applies to government information, in order to promote freedom of access ; nominating a single agency and providing it with the funding and resources to store government information and make it accessible to the public; recognise and develop the role of national, state and public libraries in connecting every Australian with the information generated by government. 

This paper is submitted as feedback to the IHPA (Independent Hospital Pricing Authority) public consultation paper prepared by Paxton Partners ‘Teaching, training and research costing study’ issued in December 2014.

The Executive of HLA is greatly concerned at the omission in the public consultation paper of the role performed by health libraries, and by information technology in general, in the paper prepared by Paxton Partners on the creation of an appropriate classification (costing study) for teaching, training and research (TTR).

ALIA welcomes the Australian Government’s commitment to online safety for children but we are concerned that creating a new position may not achieve as much as investing in existing programs and activities. 

ALIA would like Australian Standards to be freely available through libraries to the citizens who have effectively funded their development, and we hope this Inquiry will be able to identify measures that will indeed improve public access.

In order to maximise the potential of libraries to support the international student experience, on campus and remotely, funding must be made available for the very latest resources and we ask the Australian Government to recognise this in its final report detailing the national strategy for international education.

In support of the Australian book industry, the Australian Library and Information Association welcomes the extension of GST to ebooks and related digital products for consumers. However, we would have concerns if any future amendment were to propose an extension to businesses.

ALIA supports the development of a new model for minimising broadband data transmission costs for public information accessed through public institutions such as libraries and for non-commercial purposes.

It was also noted that there is a need for assistance from public library staff for users of electronic services, both for accessing government information and for everyday online tasks.