Writers to be paid for audio, e-book loans

Authors will be paid by libraries for digital content the same way they are for physical books. (Valeriu Campan/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Authors and publishers will be paid when libraries hold their e-books and audiobooks as part of the federal government's upcoming national cultural policy.

The $12.9 million move extends Australia's existing lending rights schemes to include digital content, making it one of a handful of countries in the world to include them.