From the Australian Government Attorney-General’s Department: Review of Fair Use exception (press release) [via Slashdot] From the Introduction:

The issues paper outlines the nature of copyright under the Copyright Act, the nature of and rationale for exceptions and the impact of relevant international obligations. It then discusses fair dealing exceptions under the Act and proposals for reform made in reports by the Copyright Law Review Committee (CLRC) and the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT). ‘Fair use’ under US copyright law - the focus of the review - is discussed, along with comparable exceptions under European Community (EC) directives and under the national laws of the UK, New Zealand and Canada. The use of technological protection measures and of new forms of consumer contracts to restrict access to exceptions is referred to. The paper concludes by raising a number of possible options for reform. [...]

Submissions are sought on the issues raised.

A quick summary by a Slashdotter: In Summary