The Prime Minister's Literary Awards (PMLA) celebrate the contribution of Australian literature and history to the nation's cultural and intellectual life. The PMLA was first established by then-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in 2007, shortly after the election that year.

The PMLA is open to all published authors... unless they are self-published.

You read that right. Self-published authors are disqualified from submitting an entry into the Prime Minister's Literary Awards, simply because they are self-published.

This is totally unacceptable. Self-published authors have just as much right to be recognised, and should be allowed to submit an entry into the PMLA. There is absolutely no reason why they shouldn't be allowed to submit an entry into PMLA.