Australia must embrace a new era of innovation and economic reform to rebound from recession and fix an inefficient economy, according to a new report published this week.

Diversified marketing communications group IVE is making three new leadership appointments, one into a new role as manager of governance, risk, and compliance, and two as general managers in data-driven communications roles.

Clarke Murphy Print has donated $6634 to mental health charity Gotcha4Life from its innovative and successful Fan In The Stand project, which saw it create a whole new market during Covid.

Specialist floor, wall and window graphic media supplier Visionary Digital has new distribution deals with suppliers in South Australia and New Zealand, making it easier for printers there to access its products.

The most clicked news story in the print industry this week was our coverage of the government's JobKeeper extension, which was on the Print21 news website on Tuesday morning immediately following the prime minister's press conference. The news had printers thankful wages will now be supported until March.

The printing industry is breathing a huge sigh of relief as the government extends its JobKeeper programme – widely acknowledged as saving thousands of jobs – until next March, although with a reduced payment rate.

RMGT is launching a new size press, the RMGT 970, which runs to a maximum of 965x650mm, allowing for eight A4 pages to view with colour bars, crop marks, and other furniture on both sides of a perfected sheet.

Digital enhancement solutions developer Scodix – supplied in Australia and New Zealand by Currie Group – is launching a new productivity workflow package, Scodix Studio Station, which it says will boost productivity by 60 per cent.

Kurz Australia is celebrating half a century of operation and hosted a series of staff events at locations around the country to mark the momentous occasion.

Print industry business broker Ascent Partners is putting on a free webinar next Thursday to discuss options for print businesses in Covid – the webinar is titled Regroup, Sell or Close.

The iconic oOh! Media 400sqm billboard at Sydney Airport, known as The King for its giant size, has gone digital, the unmissable 400sqm billboard is now one of the largest digital airport advertising screens in the southern hemisphere.

Boutique Melbourne print business Taylor'd Press emerged as the country's de facto best printer with more golds than anyone else, five, at this year's National Print Awards, which were live streamed due to Covid-19.

Melbourne-based digital fabric printing business AFI Branding is seeing its move into mask printing turbo charged following the mandate to wear them in Victoria.

Canon Production Printing is providing a Kick Start package of up to $40,000 with all new Arizona flatbed printers, in what it says is an initiative designed to assist Australian printers adapt to new market trends.

Newly acquired publishing giant Bauer Media is printing magazines again in New Zealand, with the presses at Webstar NZ rolling once more, following a near four-month hiatus from its biggest customer. The new Bauer owner also owns Webstar NZ.

Bauer Media is permanently closing eight of its big Australian magazine brands that have been off the shelves since May, as it battles a severe and ongoing downturn in advertising revenue, and restrictions on travel and transport.