Politicians and Authors Unite in Canberra for Reading Push

Politicians and publishers sat down together in Canberra to talk about getting more Australians reading. Australia Reads brought parliamentary representatives together with people from across books and libraries to discuss how to lift reading rates in Australia, according to Publishing Perspectives.

The conversation centred on coordinated action. Short version: no one does it alone. The room mixed local government figures with publishers, who produce and fund books, alongside booksellers, librarians and authors.

MPs and Senators also formed the Parliamentary Friends of Books and Reading with Australia Reads in Canberra. That type of group gives politicians from different parties a shared banner to support an issue inside parliament. It will be co-chaired by Dr Carina Garland MP and Senator David Pocock.

Writers were in the room too. Authors Chris Hammer, Sally Rippin, Robbie Arnott and Larissa Behrendt attended the event. Australia Reads is led by chief executive Anna Burkey, with Rebecca Slater as communications director.

The Canberra meeting follows an earlier pattern. Ministers, MPs and Senators have previously gathered at Parliament House in Canberra for an Australia Reads event, as recorded by Australia Reads. That gathering took place on the eve of International Literacy Day. Its stated aim was to show commitment to investing in Australia as a reading nation.

Away from parliament, the work is local. Australia Reads provides opportunities for schools and communities to host events with authors and illustrators. That programme continues into next year. More than 110 schools, libraries, bookshops and community centres will host over 100 author events from January to June 2027, according to Australia Reads on Facebook.

Another date for families and casual readers is Australian Reading Hour. It is held on 14 September. The idea is simple. Stop what you are doing and read for one hour, as described by Book Riot.

For readers outside the trade, this is publishing in its most public form. Deals and prize lists usually get the attention. Here the business stood next to libraries and classrooms and asked parliament to pay attention.

What makes this stand out is the guest list. Politicians rarely share a platform with novelists, children's writers, shop owners and librarians at the same time. In Canberra, they did.