EDITOR'S NOTE: The High Court overturned Cardinal George Pell's conviction for historic child sex offences in a judgment handed down April 7, 2020. In a unanimous decision all seven High Court judges found Victoria's Court of Appeal should not have upheld Pell's conviction. It found the evidence could not support a guilty verdict.

Melbourne University Publishing chief executive Louise Adler and five board members have dramatically resigned after the university decided to shift its focus to publishing academic books.

Former NSW premier Bob Carr, who was among the directors who stood down, said the independent publisher had been replaced with a "a boutique, cloistered press for scholars only."

“This is a blow to Australian culture which needs independent publishers, as much as it needs bookshops and a high standard of literacy in our schools and universities,” he said.