On Tuesday, 30 September 2025, AMPAL appeared before the Australian Senate Select Committee on the National Cultural Policy at Parliament House, Canberra.
AMPAL CEO Damian Rinaldi presented an opening statement (below) on behalf of the music publishing community, joining industry colleagues Dean Ormston (APRA AMCOS), Jenny Morris (APRA Chair) and Annabelle Herd (ARIA & PPCA).
Together, the group made a united and compelling case for a licensing solution to the use of music in AI training and against the introduction of a new copyright exception for text and data mining (TDM).
I read an interesting quote last night, from the Chief Executive of the Tech Council of Australia in the Sydney Morning Herald. He said “The TCA is hopeful Australia can find a path forward on copyright, that allows AI training to take place here, while also including appropriate protections for creators who make a living from their work.”
From AMPAL’s perspective, that path can be readily found in licensing. Every one of our 50-plus music publishers members does it (as do APRA AMCOS and PPCA) every day.
The Productivity Commission proposes a text and data mining copyright exception. For context, the last copyright exception brought into law related to access by persons with a disability - clearly an exceptional special case. A TDM exception, however, ain’t so exceptional. The issue it seeks to address can be fixed by - licensing.
As for the idea of an opt-out “compromise” – that’s like your home has been overrun by complete strangers, and it’s on you to have to ask nicely for them to leave. No songwriter or publisher should have to grovel like that over their own songs – it’s un-Australian.
Our recommendation is clear – licensing yes, exceptions no.
📺 You can watch Damian’s full opening statement here.
