I was horrified to read this yesterday:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/books/bookshops-wont-stock-toms-tale/2008/01/12/1199988643651.html
As a result, I wrote to Dymocks and Angus & Robertson yesterday. Dymocks
responded, and here is my response:
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Ms Wood,
I appreciate that you need to take defamation seriously. Dymocks did not
write the material. Dymocks, by selling the book in question, would not be
defaming anyone. As far as I am aware, no Australian court has issued an
injunction preventing Dymocks from selling a book which MAY defame another
person. By selling a book, Dymocks is not defaming any person. No Australian
court has issued an order preventing Dymocks from selling this book. Dymocks
is taking this action, for reasons best known only to Dymocks. Who knows?
Perhaps Dymocks is now run by people who owe their allegiance to
Scientology. I should remind you, at this point: The 'Church' of Scientology
was set up by a science fiction writer (none of whose books were banned by
Dymocks - I presume), one: L. Ron Hubbard as a tax dodge.
This is how it looks to me:
Dymocks is afraid of the Church of Scientology, or wishes to curry favour
with a dodgy organization, whose only claim to fame is that they were set up
to avoid tax.
My comments stand. I am disgusted and appalled at Dymocks decision to engage
in censorship.
Here's a thought: Is James Packer a major shareholder of Dymocks?
What the Hell is going on?
I used to buy a lot of books from Dymocks. I will no longer by purchasing
any books from Dymocks.
Trevor Wilson (a vigorous and staunch defender of free speech)
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I encourage everyone to write to Dymocks and Angus & Robertson to protest
this appalling censorship.
Trevor Wilson
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