‘This is a watershed moment. Upholding copyright protections is a strong step towards setting a world-leading ethical and sustainable standard for AI development.'

‘The next steps are to ensure that Australian authors and illustrators are compensated for the theft of their work to train large language models, and that AI developers seek permission to use copyright work into the future through established licensing pathways.’

‘It’s also an important acknowledgement of the value of Australian stories and storytellers, and a vital first step in redressing the harm that has been caused by what has been called “the greatest act of copyright theft in history.”'

Thank also to every single creator who shared the news with their networks, wrote to their MPs and loudly backed our sector. Nothing we do is ever possible without you.

Our warm thanks to all the authors and illustrators who contributed to our advocacy campaign to push back on this copyright exception, including Anna Funder, Tom Keneally, Caroline Overington, Sally Rippin, and Professor Toby Walsh.

We look forward to continuing to consult with the Attorney-General's Department and the Copyright and AI Reference Group on appropriate mechanisms to ensure creators are compensated for the theft of their work, and that AI developers seek permission for future use of copyright work for AI training.

We thank the Attorney-General for standing firmly behind the creative industries and protecting the rights of authors and illustrators. This represents a clear message from the government that creators should be paid for their work.

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent and The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams also made the top 10.

Congratulations to all the authors on the list.

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-19/top-100-books-trent-dalton-boy-swallows-universe/105872764

Our sincere thanks to Minister John Graham and the NSW Government for this vital support, and acknowledgement that our stories matter.

Read more: www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

James Bradley said: "The... new literature strategy will make a material difference to the lives of the state’s writers by investing in creators, strengthening the literary ecosystem and fostering a range of new partnerships with universities, cultural institutions and other organisations."

Charlotte Wood said: “Australian books and writers are a dynamic contributor to the cultural, economic and political thinking that shapes our society. And unless governments begin to take reading and literary contribution seriously, that flourishing intellectual life is doomed to evaporate.”

The website also lists multiple avenues for you to get any questions answered by the Settlement Administrator or Class Counsel (the plaintiffs’ lawyers). If you need assistance or any more information, please reach out to them through those channels.

ASA CEO Lucy Hayward said, 'Copyright is how creators earn a living, and it’s straightforward. If you want to use someone’s work you have to ask permission. These companies do not need the financial assistance of a public policy intervention to make resources available to them for free.’