In our submission to the Productivity Commission we strongly oppose the Commission's proposal for a TDM exception to copyright laws, calling for the introduction of a mandatory Code of Conduct. Read more: www.asauthors.org.au/news/asa-rejects-productivity-commission-proposal-for-tdm-exception/

We have launched our annual survey and we want to hear from you! The survey is open to all authors and illustrators, including ASA members and non-members. www.surveymonkey.com/r/asasurvey25

The $1.5 billion Anthropic settlement has been delayed, with Judge Alsup scheduling another hearing on 25 September. Prior to the settlement announcement, Anthropic was facing billions of dollars in damages for using pirated books to train its AI model. Read more: apnews.com/article/anth...

The ASA is dismayed by the news that literary journal Meanjin will cease publishing this year, with the final issue due to be released in December. Read more: www.asauthors.org.au/news/asa-dismayed-over-meanjin-closure/

The ASA is thrilled to announce the 2025 Tasmanian Writers and Illustrators Mentorship Program recipients! www.asauthors.org.au/news/2025-tasmanian-writers-and-illustrators-mentorship-program-recipients

The results of our debut Picture Book Matchmaker event are in!✨ We are thrilled to report that 50% of those pitches have received an expression of interest from a publisher or agent following the event! Read our full wrap up here: www.asauthors.org.au/news/match-m...

While it is reasonable to expect professional standards of behaviour from authors conducting events, this situation represents another instance of overreach in codes of conduct for public appearances ... Read our full statement: www.asauthors.org.au/news/author-concerns-about-bwf-code-of-conduct/

In this engaging one-hour workshop, Sunil Badami will share insider tips on how to plan a successful book launch. He'll cover working with booksellers or other venues, promoting the event, amplifying sales and avoiding stress. Book your spot 👉 www.asauthors.org.au/events/how-to-launch-your-book/

We have heard from concerned members about the Bendigo Writers Festival speaker Code of Conduct. We invite affected authors and illustrators to get in touch with us via [email protected] or through our Member Advice Service: www.asauthors.org.au/member-advice/

Tomorrow at 1pm AEST Digital Rights Watch is hosting an online town hall, Stolen Property: Big Tech’s Push to Mine Our Culture, which will look at the Productivity Commission’s proposal to give AI companies a ‘right to mine data’. You can register to attend here: events.humanitix.com/stolen-prope...

We are dismayed by the Productivity Commission report raising the prospect of a text and data mining exception to Australia’s Copyright Act that would enable Australian authors' work to be used for AI training, without permission or payment. www.asauthors.org.au/news/asa-opp...

Sydney Writers' Festival has announced a partnership with SLNSW to establish a dedicated literature hub in Sydney with year-round programming. This is welcome news for authors and illustrators, who receive a much-needed income boost from paid appearances.

We’re thrilled to congratulate Siang Lu on winning the 2025 Miles Franklin Literary Award for his novel Ghost Cities. www.theguardian.com/books/2025/jul/24/siang-lu-miles-franklin-literary-award-2025-winner

Applications are now open for the Elevate: First Nations Storytelling and Literature Fund, a career development grant open to Australian First Nations writers, poets, and illustrators. creative.gov.au/investments-opportunities/elevate-first-nations-storytelling-and-literature-fund

Applications are now open for the Blake-Beckett Trust Scholarship. The $35,000 scholarship is offered annually to an Australian author to provide them with valuable time to work on a current manuscript. One runner-up will receive $15,000. www.asauthors.org.au/award/blake-beckett-trust-scholarship

Following the release of an external report into its governance, decision-making and risk management processes in relation to the 2026 Venice Biennale, Creative Australia has reinstated the Artistic Team for Venice, Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino. Read more: creative.gov.au/news-events/...

We are thrilled to see a strong author voice represented on the Writing Australia Council through the inclusion of authors Larissa Behrendt, Sarah Holland-Batt, Sally Rippin and Christos Tsiolkas. creative.gov.au/news-events/news/welcoming-inaugural-members-writing-australia-council

Last week, nearly 18,000 PLR/ELR payments were made to Australian writers, illustrators and publishers, totalling over $28 million. For the second year, the payments included ebooks and audiobooks. The ASA successfully campaigned for PLR in 1975, ELR in 2000, and digital lending rights in 2023.

There is still time to book your spot for Friday's event with author Holden Sheppard and illustrator Heath McKenzie. Holden and Heath will reveal what really goes on behind the scenes of book adaptations! www.asauthors.org.au/events/book-to-screen-adaptations-the-author-and-illustrator-perspective

If you’re renewing your ASA membership or joining before 1 July, you can enter our member giveaway for a chance to win one of 12 literary prize packs. To find out more, including entry details, visit www.asauthors.org.au/news/asa-member-giveaway

Disregarding concerns from over 400 creative professionals and book industry leaders, the UK's Data Bill passed through the House of Commons and is expected to pass the House of Lords without proposed amendments concerning transparency about the use of copyrighted works.

Do you have a picture book manuscript or illustration portfolio you’d like to get in front of publishers and agents? 📚 Booking applications are now open for Picture Book Matchmaker! ASA members have until 23 June to apply. Find out more 👉 www.asauthors.org.au/picture-book-matchmaker

We are delighted to announce that 18 new illustrators have joined the ASA Style File, following the 2025 round of submissions www.asauthors.org.au/news/new-illustrators-featured-on-the-asa-style-file-2025-round/

Industry opportunities are at our member’s fingertips in the ASA’s Book Industry Directory, a comprehensive, member-only digital resource of Australian publishing industry organisations, opportunities, and services. www.asauthors.org.au/news/a-new-look-industry-directory

Are you a published writer or professional editor with manuscript assessment experience? We are seeking new assessors to join the register of industry experts for our manuscript assessment service. Download the EOI form and apply ✏ www.asauthors.org.au/news/work-with-us-manuscript-assessors

Applications are now open for the 2025 Tasmanian Writers and Illustrators Mentorship Program, offered thanks to the support of the Tasmanian Government through Arts Tasmania. Find out more and apply ✏ www.asauthors.org.au/award/tasmanian-writers-and-illustrators-mentorship-program

Join Leonie Norrington and Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubbs to learn about understanding and implementing respectful storytelling practices when working with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples or ICIP. www.asauthors.org.au/events/consultation-and-consent-writing-australian-historical-fiction

We're launching a new event for picture book creators – Picture Book Matchmaker – giving creators a unique opportunity to pitch their work to publishers and agents. Want to know more? Join us on 6 June for a free info session. www.asauthors.org.au/events/introducing-picture-book-matchmaker

Do you know an Australian author or illustrator who has made an outstanding contribution to Australian culture as both a creator and an advocate? Nominations for the 2025 ASA Medal close on 23 May 🏅 www.asauthors.org.au/award/asa-medal/

There are only a few days left to apply for the ASA Style File, a curated portfolio site for illustrators to showcase their work. With the long weekend approaching, now is the perfect time for illustrators to prepare portfolios for submission by 5pm on 21 April. www.asauthors.org.au/asa-style-file/

We are heavy-hearted with news of the passing of accomplished author and lawyer Kerry Greenwood OAM, who was also a longtime member of the ASA. We extend our condolences to her family, friends, readers and the writing community. Vale Kerry. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04...

Do you want to help shape the future of Australia’s book industry by helping authors and illustrators pursue sustainable creative careers? We’re seeking an empathetic and enthusiastic supporter of writers with book industry knowledge to join our team. www.asauthors.org.au/news/work-wi...

Ahead of the federal election, the ASA is joining publishers, librarians, and booksellers in a shared election platform for the book industry. bookscreate.com.au

We’re thrilled to announce the winners of the 2025 ASA Award Mentorship Program! 🥳 Congratulations to: Beth Amos Dorothy-Jane Daniels Leah Young Jess Horn Brydie Cook Lauran Wassell Heather Cummins Phillip Robbie www.asauthors.org.au/news/announc...

Authors and publishers are outraged after an article in the Atlantic detailed Meta’s use of LibGen’s pirated-books database to illicitly train its generative AI tool. www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/202...

“No consent has been obtained from any of the thousands of authors who have had our work taken, and not a single cent has been paid to any of us,” he said. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

❗️Authors and illustrators: have your books been used to train AI? Today the Atlantic published a search tool allowing authors to search for their books in the LibGen dataset, which has been used to train Meta's AI system. Search here: www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...

Congratulations to the 2025 Victorian Premier's Literary Award winners: Wanda Gibson, Robert Skinner, Fiona McFarlane, Susan Hampton, Nathan Maynard, Jeanine Leane, Emma Lord and Chris Ames!👏 www.wheelercentre.com/victorian-pr...

Australia Reads has announced a new live literature initiative, LitUp! Supported by @copyrightagency.bsky.social and Creative Australia, this pilot program will connect authors to communities in regional and outer-metropolitan areas. Find out more: australiareads.org.au/litup

We’re thrilled to share our March Member Spotlight is Nadia Mahjouri! Nadia won an ASA/Arts Tasmania Mentorship in 2022 and has now had her debut novel, Half Truth, published by Penguin Random House. @nadiamahjouri.bsky.social Read our interview with Nadia: www.asauthors.org.au/news/member-...

The ASA has heard from concerned writers who have been asked by their publisher, Black Inc, to opt in to a sublicence arrangement that would allow Black Inc. to license their work for generative AI training. www.asauthors.org.au/news/black-i...

Are you an illustrator looking for job opportunities? The ASA Style File is now open for applications! The Style File is a curated portfolio site for illustrators to showcase their work to publishers and industry professionals. Find out more and apply: www.asauthors.org.au/asa-style-fi...

Bookings for our March Virtual Literary Speed Dating event are now open! Don't miss this opportunity to pitch your work to Australian publishers and agents. Find out more and book: www.asauthors.org.au/events/liter...

Freedom of expression is a fundamental right. We are gravely concerned about artists, writers, and illustrators, in Australia facing repercussions for expressing their views, analyses, or ideas in their creative work. creative.gov.au/news/media-r...

How do you use social media to build your career? Researchers are conducting a study examining the ways in which contemporary Australian women authors use digital media to be commercially and/or critically successful, and their author survey is now open!

Whether you’ve experienced the challenges of navigating digital media as an author, or you would like to better understand that experience, join us for this event with Jessie Tu to learn about how to navigate the online world with care. www.asauthors.org.au/events/being...

Authors and illustrators - don't forget to complete our annual survey! In order to better understand and meet the needs of our members, we need to hear from you. Have your say before 23 February: www.asauthors.org.au/news/have-yo...

Pasifika-Australian writers, apply now for Fresh Off the Books! This initiative will invite 12 creators to participate in Pasifika-led mentoring, workshops and publication outputs, culminating in an anthology of Pasifika-Australian writing. Apps close 28 Feb: www.sweatshop.ws/fresh-off-th...

The ASA is pleased to launch our new rates of pay for judging literary awards. Authors and illustrators deserve to be paid fairly for their work and these rates have been established to provide creators with authority and confidence in their negotiations. www.asauthors.org.au/news/asa-lau...

We're thrilled to share our February Member Spotlight features Tony Tan! Tony’s latest cookbook, Tony Tan’s Asian Cooking Class was recently shortlisted for the 2025 Indie Book Awards. Read our spotlight interview with Tony: www.asauthors.org.au/news/member-...