Book buddies bind together to protect printed page

Rise of the e-book prompts Labor government to create Book Industry Strategy Group.

Launched by Innovation minister Senator Kim Carr, (pictured) at this week’s Digital Revolution: Publishing in the 21st Century symposium in Melbourne, the group will comprise of eight people, be independently chaired and involve all participants in the supply chain.

“It is about bringing people together and giving them a chance to find common ground and a shared purpose,” said Carr. “This will include working with the printing industry working group; the creative industries innovation centre and the IT industry innovation council.”

The Book Industry Strategy Group will operate according to precise terms of reference and is expected to report back within twelve months.

News of the Book Industry Strategy Group has already been welcomed by members of the printing industry. “We are also very happy that Senator Carr sees the printing industry as an integral part of the new communication world and is keen to encourage the adoption of new technology in a digital world,” said Hagop Tchamkertenian, Printing Industries national manager, for policy and government affairs.

Cliff Brigstocke, CEO of Opus Print Group, who was active in the fight to maintain the 30-day rule, aggress. “It’s positive news that comes on the back of the productivity’s review, and it’s nice to see that what we said back then has been followed up in terms of bringing the industry together cohesively,” he said.

Less excited, but still hopeful, was Alan Fahy, chief executive of Australia’s largest book printing company, McPherson's. “It’s early days but in principle it sounds like no harm can come from it,” Fahy said.

Carr urged attendees at the Digital Revolution symposium not to resist or ignore the rise of e-books. “The written word may be almost as old as human civilisation itself but this doesn’t mean we can ignore the very real and very rapid advances being made in digital publishing technologies,” he said.

“We are moving into an environment in which the printed book is just one platform among many.”

Carr was a guest speaker at last year's CEO Forum, where he encouraged the printing industry to reinvent itself and develop a single identity.