Prime Minister Scott Morrison opened his 2022 election campaign with a visit to East Coast Canning, a start-up mobile can printing, labelling and packaging business on the NSW south coast.

The two major print associations aim to form one "super industry body", in what the protagonists say is a "call to arms" to the print industry to come together and "build the strongest industry we've ever been".

The print industry’s super fund Media Super will complete its long-planned merger with Cbus tomorrow, with some $7bn in member funds transferring over to the much larger fund.

The federal government’s final budget before the election left industry severely underwhelmed, containing little of meaning for printers, as the hunt for votes took centrestage.

Print industry leaders are united in their disappointment in the third budget of the Morrison government, which they said, while having a few bright spots, failed to show much meaningful support.

Online graphic design platform founders Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht are now the tenth wealthiest people in Australia, with all their money coming in just the past 10 years, since they launched Canva.

PVCA has suspended the individual state Printing Industry Creativity Awards (PICAs) for this year. Instead, they will present a single, expanded National Print Awards competition, with entry open to all.

The Asia Pacific and Japan HP Inkspiration Awards are back for 2022, with printers needing to get their entries in by Monday 11 April, for the awards which will be announced on 23 May.

The two big ANZ printable materials distributors, Ball & Doggett and Spicers, say that local printers do not need to be overly alarmed over paper, saying they have supply under control, although they say flexibility over brands may be needed, and prices are certain to rise.

Local newspaper publishers say they may have to close titles, as Norske Skog tries to push through cost increases of 30 per cent for newsprint, and up to 45 per cent for other papers, from its Boyer mill.

Sanctions imposed on Russia from its murderous invasion of Ukraine are adding to supply woes, with Russian paper now likely to be banned from use, and energy prices for paper manufacturers soaring.

This year’s Women in Print annual Breakfast Series will focus on ‘learning how to think differently’, and aims to empower women to approach challenges in a different way.

Ricoh has developed a plant-based inkjet ink, which it says eliminates the need for biocides and reduces ink consumption thanks to a higher opacity.

As the flood crisis in Australia’s east continues to develop, the industry’s suppliers have joined forces once again through Visual Connections, and say they stand ready to assist impacted businesses.

Print businesses in SE Qld and NSW have spent the week battling the torrential downpours, with some succumbing to various levels of inundation, but the industry is rallying round with support.

Local print industry suppliers are reassuring nervous print business owners and managers that they are taking steps to ensure supply, and that there are steps printers can take too.