Helpful information Text of bill First reading: Text of the bill as introduced into the Parliament Third reading: Prepared if the
Copyright Amendment Act 2026 passes – And Frees the Orphans
The Copyright Amendment Bill 2026 received Royal Assent on 1 April, creating an Australian orphan works scheme that will allow use of creative materials where the copyright owner cannot be located. This world-class legislation is the result of decades of advocacy by libraries and other stakeholders, and years of consultation by the government. This will help free up thousands of works that are currently locked behind strict copyright laws, unable to be used to build new knowledge and creations, simply because no one knows who to ask for permission. The bill also includes important updates to support remote learning for schools.
