SA PRINTERS FUMING AS STATE GOVT FALLS FOR LIE

Print business across metro and regional South Australia have been forced to switch off their presses in the state's ultra-strict lockdown, with the rules causing confusion as to whether anything can be printed, and leaving printers fuming at the ban on manufacturing.

UPDATE: The lockdown is now over, with the government's massive over-reaction revealed to have been based on a lie, which led to the government somehow believing that a tainted pizza box was worthy of closing the entire economy, including every printer in the state.

All manufacturing had to cease until next Wednesday, however essential services are running, leaving printers who supply essential services, which many of them do, in a grey area.

The lockdown – said to be the strictest in the world, with the population confined to their homes and all economic activity halted – has been slammed by industry leaders, including PVCA CEO Andrew Macalauy, who said, “With all the evidence from Victoria of damage to the economy and negative impact on mental health, the panic actions of the South Australian government are at best folly, at worst negligent.”

Damien Burchill CEO at the Bowden Print Group was among those having to deal with the lockdown, he said, “We supply to medical clients. If they come to us and want some print then we will open the factory, call in some staff and print for them, but only for them. It is all grey though. We need clarity."

Kym Burns, CEO at Newstyle Printing said, "It is very disappointing. We supply to essential services, but our factory had to close. We want clarification. Printers in Victoria were allowed to operate throughout their lockdown, why not us?"

The South Australian printers who supply to interstate clients are in a particularly difficult position. Burns said, "I'm not sure people in Sydney or Melbourne understand what's going on here, everything is closed. There seems to have been no planning We are an essential industry, yet we can't open the factory. We are hoping there will be a review over the weeknd."

Kellie Northwood, CEO at The Real Media Collective said clarification is needed on what was essential, she said, “”Our member sectors can be categorised either as essential services or essential services supply chain providers, and we are working with our member companies in South Australia to assist them with the interpretation, guides and, at times nebulous information from government.

“It is difficult when working through the varying pieces of information to understand the complexities and- we are working with members and government direct for clarification where needed.”

James Pearson CEO at the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry said, “It’s disappointing. These are a blunt measure, when we can actually do better than this. We can target, we can plan. They’re ignoring their own health triggers that they agreed to last week. Businesses across the country, they’re holding their heads in their hand in this.”

Under the state-wide lockdown all factories have been ordered to close, and all retail has been closed, save for grocery stores and pharmacies.