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Graeme Samuel, chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), is extremely peeved. He bought a Kindle e-book reader from Amazon.com to read the latest titles – only to find, like many other Australians, that he can't download many of the books he wants to read.
Samuel told the story last night at a meeting of mainly legal minds – along with a few analysts and media – at law firm Henry Davis York's magnificently art deco Sydney HQ, where he was talking about How Australia's Competition and Consumer Laws are Tackling Communications.
He is, he said, increasingly frustrated by "the restrictions [laid down by publishers] about what I can download to my Kindle simply because I'm an Australian resident."
Among the best-selling titles the competition watchdog has been declined permission to download or import in print form are On the Brink: Inside the Race to Stop the Collapse of the Global Financial System by Henry Paulson; and – perhaps more entertainingly – Deliver Us From Evil, the latest title by political thriller writer David Baldacci.
Under questioning from CDN, Samuel regretted that in this case he lacks the power to do anything about the situation. Copyright and territorial publishing issues are matters over which the ACCC has no sway.
Speaking to the subject of digital convergence and the growing power of the electronic media, Samuel revealed himself as quite an electronic geek. His BlackBerry, he said, has all but replaced paper and ink in his life. "The thud of newspapers on my doorstep has been all but superseded by the buzzing of the BlackBerry at 3am with tomorrow's headlines and newsclips".
During the day he gets electronic updates from The Australian, the ABC and The Age, along with comment from Business Spectator, and at the end of the day he gets analysis from "credible economists" writing for the Core Economics Web site.
Print journalism isn't yet totally out of his schedule. "The Australian is still delivered to the front lawn but generally too late for breakfast table reading, so online has become the preferred medium," he added. His office supplies a copy of the Fin Review.
Samuel said he looks forward to owning an iPad – while wondering if it will be the death or saviour of newspapers – but plans on waiting for the second generation when he reckons a few more functions will have been added. An entertaining night, finished off with drinks and canapés on the moonlit rooftop terrace – thanks, HDY– David Frith
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