Copyright Amendment Bill 2026; Second Reading

Shoebridge supported the bill but moved an amendment highlighting concerns about section 28. Shoebridge argued that current provisions did not adequately cover recorded lessons accessed by students unable to attend live classes due to illness or other reasons. Shoebridge called for amendments to allow limited recording with access controls to ensure equitable educational access.

Roberts supported the bill, noting it addressed orphan works and clarified online teaching exemptions. Roberts welcomed the introduction of 'reasonable' charges for copyright claims, which he argued would help small businesses avoid excessive litigation costs from copyright trolls. Roberts noted the bill did not address AI training issues, which he identified as a future concern requiring further legislative attention.

Pocock supported the bill but expressed serious concerns about AI companies using copyrighted works without payment. Pocock foreshadowed an amendment to reaffirm creator rights and reject text and data mining exceptions. Pocock argued that the government needed to stand up to big tech and ensure creators were fairly compensated for the use of their works in AI training.