Pricing for creative content and software was on the Opposition’s agenda according to Labor leader Bill Shorten who visited Armadale on Monday.
Mr Shorten was responding to a question from a local about improving the delivery of television and audio content to Australians to stop people from pirating.
Mr Shorten said his party was looking into Australians being treated as ‘soft touches’ by companies selling content.
“I do accept the argument that our downloading films and not paying for them is taking away the intellectual property of artists,” he said.
“By the same token though there is an issue about price affordability and it isn’t good enough for the Australian market to be treated as a lucrative market and charged higher prices for not just videos and films but indeed a whole range of software and technology.
“I don’t like the idea of global companies who look at Australia and see us as a soft touch and can charge higher prices.”
Mr Shorten visited the Armadale district hall as a part of his town hall series to promote Burt candidate Matt Keogh.
The hall, mostly filled with local Labor branch members, gave Mr Shorten a rousing reception.
As well as pirating he took questions on a range of issues including their plan for seniors, the NBN and transport.
