Coalition response to ALIA's ten questions

1. Will your party endorse, support and contribute to the funding of the National Year of Reading 2012? What is your party's reaction to the fact that 46% of Australians aged 15-74 do not have the prose literacy skills that are needed for everyday life and work?

The Coalition recognises the importance of reading and the highly beneficial role libraries play in promoting literacy and knowledge throughout Australia.

We are concerned by your claim that 46% of Australians aged 15-74 do not have the literacy skills that are needed in everyday life. We support all initiatives that promote greater literacy among Australians.

When last in government the Coalition introduced literacy testing for all students in years 3, 5, and 7. We determined minimum national standards and assessed all children against them. We also provided financial assistance to parents whose children did not meet the national benchmarks.

2. Does your party believe in the benefits of a national early childhood literacy initiative for Australian under-fives?

The Coalition encourages parents to impart the joy of reading to their children at the earliest possible age, but we have no plans to implement a national initiative for under-fives.

3. Does your party support mandatory ISP filtering?

The Coalition supports sensible and workable measures to protect children from illegal or inappropriate online content. We will continue to assess, monitor and test improvements in technology which may enhance on line safety. But ultimately it will be a range of measures-such as strong and well funded on line policing, support for teachers and parents, and international cooperation that will keep our children safe in the on line world. We are sceptical that a national internet filter along the lines flagged by the Labor government can be effective, or even implemented.

4. Does your party recognise the value of a national digitisation strategy?

The Coalition supports digitisation measures that make information more accessible to Australians.

5. What role does your party envisage that libraries will play in the roll out of the NBN?

The Coalition wants to see all Australians with effective broadband access, but we do not support the Labor government's NBN project. The Coalition has made it clear for many months that we believe Labor's $43 billion NBN plan is a reckless and risky adventure. Labor's expensive, interventionist and irresponsible plan is not the only way to deliver faster and better broadband. It will risk billions of dollars of taxpayers' money to recreate a government-owned telecommunications network with any services years away.

6. Will your party provide funding for the purchase of quality digital content for all Australians through the Electronic Resources Australia project?

Because the Labor party in government has borrowed and spent recklessly, we cannot commit to many new spending proposals, however worthwhile some of them might be. Our first priority is to pay down Labor's debt and deficit.

7. Does your party recognise the potential of libraries to deliver social, educational and economic benefits at a national level?

The Coalition believes libraries are a force for good in the Australian community. The information and resources they provide can change lives for the better, and we want them to adapt successfully and thrive in the digital age. We strongly support the work of Australia's National Library and will always ensure in government that it is well funded.

8. Is your party in agreement with the principle that there should be a teacher librarian in every school? Will your party support the continuance and conclusion of the House of Representatives Inquiry into School Libraries and Teacher Librarians in Australian Schools?

The number and training of school librarians is a matter for state and territory governments. But we agree with the principle that a school library is far more effective when it features a full-time librarian. We will support in government the continuance and completion of the Inquiry into School Libraries and Teacher Librarians in Australian schools.

9. Will your party recognise the role of public libraries in providing access to e-government services and publications and how will it support this role?

The Coalition appreciates that public libraries disseminate crucial government information. We want libraries to be at the cutting-edge of 21st century technology so they can continue to perform this vital task effectively.

10. What is your party's position about ensuring free and longterm public access to government information, particularly government publications and e-government services?

The Coalition supports existing freedom of information laws, and we want the widest possible dissemination and availability of government publications.