Public Lending Right Committee

The Public Lending Right Committee represents Australian authors, publishers and libraries in relation to the lending right program.

We are responsible for managing the lending right schemes. The Public Lending Right Committee is part of the governance arrangements for the Public Lending Right scheme and has an advisory role for the Educational Lending Right scheme.

Committee members

Ms Olivia Lanchester, Chairperson

Olivia Lanchester is a cultural policy consultant and intellectual property lawyer. She is deeply experienced at advising authors and illustrators on all aspects of the publishing process, including publishing, agency and distribution contracts. Olivia was the CEO of the Australian Society of Authors from 2019–2024, and prior to that Legal Counsel from 2014–2019. She established Authors Legal, a national non-profit legal service for authors during that time. She is a former director of the Australian Copyright Council and International Authors Forum. Olivia was the Co-Chair of the industry group advising the NSW Government on its 2025 Writing and Literature Strategy. Olivia has led extensive advocacy on the impact of artificial intelligence on the creative economy and currently consults to the sector on this topic. She is a director of Authors Legal and Chair of the Government's Public Lending Right Committee.

Ms Lanchester has served on the Committee since 2023.

Ms Rachel Bin Salleh, Publisher Representative

Ms Bin Salleh is a Nimunburr and Yawuru woman from the Kimberley region of Western Australia who is passionate about First Nations people telling their stories. Ms Bin Salleh is the publisher at Magabala Books in Broome and has worked in publishing for more than 30 years. Published in 2018, her debut picture book, Alfred's War, tells the story of Alfred and the lack of recognition and equality for returned WWI First Nations servicemen. In 2020 Ms Bin Salleh was awarded the inaugural Writing WA Literary Lions Medal for services to literature.

Ms Bin Salleh has served on the Committee since 2024.

Dr Tiffany Tsao, Author Representative

Dr Tsao is a writer, literary translator and deputy editor of the Sydney Review of Books. Her fourth novel, But Won't I Miss Me was released in May 2026. She has previously worked as an editor at Asymptote, InterSastra, and The Circular (a digital newsletter project of the Sydney Review of Books). Her third novel, Under Your Wings, was longlisted for the 2019 Ned Kelly Award. Her translations of Indonesian fiction and poetry have been awarded the NSW Premier's Translation Prize, the PEN Translation Prize, and longlisted for the International Booker Prize. She lives on Gamaragal land (Sydney), holds a PhD in English from University of California, Berkeley, and is a founding member of the seams—a small collective of individuals who translate Southeast Asian literature into English.

Dr Tsao has served on the Committee since April 2026.

Mr Will Kostakis, Author Representative

Mr Kostakis is an award-winning children's and young adult's author who has extensive experience working with public and educational libraries. An accomplished public speaker, he has spent more than 16 years travelling around Australia and overseas to speak about his books and writing at schools, festivals and conferences. His books have received numerous accolades. Most notably, his novel We Could Be Something won the 2024 Prime Minister's Literary Awards in the Young Adult Literature category.

Mr Kostakis has served on the Committee since 2024.

Ms Clare Thorpe, Australian Libraries Representative

Clare Thorpe is an award-winning library leader, researcher, and non-executive board director. She has worked in university and state libraries since 2001 and is currently Director, Library Services at Southern Cross University. She previously served on the boards of the Australia Library and Information Association and Open Access Australasia.

Ms Thorpe has served on the Committee since 2024.

Ms Libby Cass, National Library of Australia Representative

Ms Cass is Director, Curatorial and Collection Research at the National Library of Australia (NLA). Libby represents the NLA as a member of National e-Deposit (NED) —promoting legal deposit and NED to publishers and help them transition from print to digital.

Ms Cass has served on the Committee since 2019.

Mr Steven Zorzi, Copyright Representative

Mr Zorzi is Director, Copyright Law and Policy at the Attorney General's Department. His expertise in copyright is a valued asset to the Committee.

Mr Zorzi has served on the Committee since 2021.

Under the Public Lending Right Act 1985 a committee representing Australian authors, publishers and libraries is appointed by the Minister for the Arts.

Review of Public Lending Right Committee decisions

If the committee makes a decision affecting you, you have 28 days to ask them to review the decision. There is no fee, but you must make the request for a review in writing.

The committee can extend the time limit, but you will need to ask for an extension and explain why you need it in your request.

If the committee doesn't respond within 90 days, the decision stands. In that case, or if you do not agree with the revised decision, you can apply to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for a review.