The caucus was set to resolve whether the Federal Government would accept the productivity commission’s recommendation to lift import restrictions on the printing and publishing industries.

Mr Gibbons said a move to adjourn the debate until November 24 was passed by a slight majority.

“Obviously some of my caucus colleagues were concerned about taking a decision on this important issue in the absence of cabinet finalising its position,” he said.

“I think we could have got a good result today and resolved the matter once and for all, but that opportunity has now passed.”

Mr Gibbons said he would continue to lobby hard for a successful result for the printing industry.

Four speakers addressed caucus, with three against and one in favour.

Fellow MP and author Graham Perrett said Australian children risked losing part of their culture and identity if the ban on imports was abolished.

Competition Minister Craig Emerson is reportedly formulating a compromise position to avoid a backlash on the issue. Mr Perrett, a former English teacher who was in the headlines last year for a novel that contained racy sex scenes, said he would lobby hard for the protection of local publishers.

“Our cultural roots should be protected by having a strong publishing industry,” he said.

Flooding bookshops with books written by overseas authors such as Dan Brown or JK Rowling did little for Australian culture.

“I don’t want the kids . . . to have to read about mums spelt M-O-M or diapers. We should be nurturing Australian writers.”

The commission believes books will be cheaper without the import ban, but Mr Perrett said only one of his constituents had expressed concern about the cost of books.

“And (that was about) the price of academic books,” he said.