‘Exorbitant’ fees paid to academic publishers better spent on Australian research and education, report finds

A report calls for the $1b paid each year by Australian institutions to private academic publishers to be used for public education and research. Photograph: PeopleImages/Getty Images

Australia’s public research institutions are paying $1bn a year to giant academic publishers, new research shows, amid growing calls for taxpayer money to be redirected away from private enterprises.

The Australia Institute report, released on Wednesday, questioned if more public money should be used for research and education instead of being directed to international academic publishers.