New Labor minister tools up for printer's lunch

A lunchtime meeting of the Printing Industries CEO forum was an opportunity for industry leaders to meet, greet and grill the new Federal industry minister. Print 21 editor, Simon Enticknap, went along for some food for thought.

Most politicians are like cheap hardware tools from the $2 shop: you know they're not going to last long and probably won't do a good job anyway but hopefully they'll manage to do what you want without stuffing it up too much. Last November, Australian voters decided they wanted a new set of tools and elected a Rudd Labor government which is why, this time around, we had Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, fronting up to the Printing Industries CEO forum lunch held at Darling Harbour this week.

In truth, Senator Carr didn't have to do much. Following the woeful performance of his predecessor at the same function last year, he could have recited scenes from the Teletubbies and still have made a better impression. His audience clearly expected more though; this is a new government after all, we expect new ideas, fresh initiatives, bold plans and far-sighted policies. We expect things to get better.

Much ado about nothing?
First impressions were encouraging. The senator knows what print is (good grief, he even claims to know what a moiré is) and he appears to understand some of the problems facing the industry and to value the contribution that a healthy home-grown print sector can make.

"Can we build a knowledge economy without a strong publishing and printing industry?" he asked rhetorically. (For those of you who might still be wondering, the answer is No.) "This is an enabling industry," he added.

Having laid down his credentials, Carr proceeded to explain what the government will do: Enterprise Connect, Manufacturing and Innovation Centres, $2.5 billion to build trade training centres, fast-tracking Skills Australia, encouraging Asian language learning so businesses can talk to our neighbours. He was even prepared to serve it up to the assembled industry leaders, highlighting the plummeting number of new apprenticeships.

"Please don't take that as a reproach," he pleaded, seeing his audience's knuckles tighten around their bread knives. "Think of it more as tough love."

More than anything though, he has his master's voice: he's looking to form a working group. He's ready to consult. He invites contributions. He wants to listen. He needs to hear from us.

Fortunately in that regard, there was a roomful of people on hand willing to help him out.

Pictured: (l-r) Jim Atkinson, Printing Industries president, Senator Kim Carr, and Philip Andersen, Printing Industries CEO.

The sharpest tool in the shed?
What can be done to improve the environmental image of the industry? Sounding uncannily like the PM himself, Carr declares that climate change is a "core business" for all manufacturers, not just printers. Displaying yet more tough love, he suggests that the industry needs to bring "more focus to its advocacy" so that politicians and public alike can hear what the industry has to say.

Can anything be done to ease the process of migration to fill skill shortages? The migration programme is being expanded but there are issues that need to be addressed about the 457 visa.

Will the money saved on cutting MP's print allowances be spent on other media? No, and it's not just a cost-cutting measure; the previous government had exploited the system to favour incumbents in a way that was "just not proper".

What can be done about unfair trading conditions with China? Good question. At this point my notes read: "engage" "advocacy", "innovation", "review", "ideas". Plus "the beginning of change is to discuss these issues". So we'll take that as a "Don't know."

Can he guarantee that all government printing will be done in Australia? The short answer is "No" but he's interested in seeing what can be done to encourage smaller companies to take part in the tender process and to use procurement as part of an industry development programme.

All in all, there were some solid ideas and an invitation, which seems genuine, for the industry to contribute. Perhaps not such a bad tool after all. For a politician.