Print’s peak bodies on front foot with new govt

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Australians have cast a resounding vote for political and social transformation, with climate action, gender equity and industrial relations reform in the spotlight this election. As Anthony Albanese takes the helm, and the ALP prepares to form government, the printing industry's peak bodies, soon to be one voice, are primed and ready to lobby on key issues impacting the industry.

New PM: Anthony Albanese
Australia's new PM: Anthony Albanese

Today, after the swearing in by the Governor General, the printing industry’s soon-to-merge peak associations PVCA and TRMC conveyed best wishes to Prime Minister Albanese, and each of his currently appointed Ministers.

Kellie Northwood, CEO, TRMC and incoming CEO of PVCA told Print21, “We informed them that as the combined industry body representing the largest manufacturing sector in the country, we look forward to working closely with their government across all industry related issues and matters of interest.”

Northwood noted that both the Coalition and the ALP have supportive policies across sovereign manufacturing, which provides opportunity for the printing industry. She said the association will be engaging with the appropriate Minister, as soon as caucus is announced, to ensure the National Skills Council reviews its removal of the apprentices across the industry's Awards.

As previously reported in Print21, the Coalition government shocked the industry by dumping five of the six print apprentices from its new priority list, but the industry is coming together to fight to reverse the decision, which it says is alarming, and of great concern.

“Skills and training further requires serious review, and the ALP has strong policies across this to which we will refer,” Northwood said. “Additionally, we have begun a proposal to Treasury to implement a procurement policy across all government print procurement to be locally manufactured and print management contracts reviewed accordingly to comply with local manufacture. This will be communicated to the incoming Treasurer and Finance Minister in Chalmers and Gallagher.

“Finally, we have been working on a policy across gender equity and carbon emission targets for our industry since Glasgow to establish a standard that we can then develop a target by size and industry sector for packaging, commercial print, signage, heatset and more – all of which align with the new government's policies and provide opportunity for our industry to prepare for a strong manufacturing future,” Northwood said.

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