An extraordinary general meeting (EGM) of the Packaging Council of Australia (PCA) has voted unanimously in favour of winding up the organisation and joining the Printing Industries Association of Australia (PIAA).
In a joint statement, PIAA CEO Andrew Macaulay and PCA CEO David Carter announced that all formalities are now complete and the Packaging Council will officially join Printing Industries.
“We are really excited about the joining of the two organisations, being able to deliver valuable services to packaging businesses and to represent their voice in advocating on behalf of industry,” says Macaulay. “This is about empowering the packaging sector within Printing Industries. The intent is that the sector will be represented on the Printing Industries board.
“The convergence of technologies means that many businesses are exposed to printing and packaging together. The sectors are similarly impacted by government policy and process where our advocacy efforts are achieving results, and there are common requirements such as a solution to workplace relations queries and the desire to learn through events and network with industry influencers. Printing Industries is well positioned to cater to these needs in an efficient manner."
The announcement follows a PCA EGM on Wednesday,16 August 2017, where a motion was unanimously passed to wind up the PCA in an orderly and legal manner, and to transfer the activities, intellectual properties and interests to the PIAA.
Carter says: “We are proud of the achievements of the Packaging Council, including our student and industry awards, our advocacy efforts, and the representation we have provided on numerous industry committees such as FSANZ, the Australian Packaging Covenant Council, and the National Packaging Covenant Industry Association Committee. We expect these achievements will continue to build as a result of joining Printing Industries.”
Macaulay says: “The success of Printing Industries in raising the profile and understanding of the industry at a state and federal government level is the key motivating factor for many packaging businesses to support the change. Energy security and affordability is a serious concern in the sector, and packaging members have expressed their desire to become involved in our advocacy work, which we wholeheartedly welcome”.