Printing Industries has thrown its support behind threatened Sydney printer Bragg Printing and accused the state government of riding rough shod over small business.
Bragg is being forced out of its premises in Sydney’s inner west as the NSW government pushes ahead with its compulsory acquisition process as part of the Sydney Metro project.
"You could say we're not terribly impressed," Andrew Macaulay, CEO, PIAA, told Print21. "We think its a cavalier approach to small business, especially by a Liberal government that's supposedly supportive of small business and its employees. We've written two letters to Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance and have received back nothing of any substance. Some of our members have also made contact with the Treasurer."
Macaulay said the government's dialogue with the printing company appeared to be disingenuous.
"They don't appear to have engaged in a very fair dialogue with Bragg and it would appear that they have not entered into the negotiations in good faith," he said. "They almost appear to be trying to extend futile negotiations with the aim that the Habibs will get exhausted and basically submit to the outcome. There has been no significant recognition that Bragg is operating a commercial enterprise that would face significant costs if they're forced to move.
"It would appear to us, anecdotally, that the government has the option of using state government land located directly opposite the Bragg business but they have chosen not to do that. The suggestion is that they see greater commercial benefit in taking over Bragg's land because they can build a commercial development above it.
"It appears that the decision is not directly related to infrastructure but is heavily influenced by commercial property developers they're involved with. Compulsory acquisition laws were put in place so genuine infrastructure needs can be met, not so that government can engage in speculative property development."
Macaulay says there has been no recognition by the government that Bragg Printing has been in the location for a hundred years and is still a vital operation.
"Arthur Habib has been a member of the PIAA for as long as he has owned the business and the business itself has been a member for its entire 100-year history. Arthur's daughter has plans to take it on and they're destroying the intergenerational transfer of a business and destroying the jobs of ten people.
"It's a poor government that rides rough shod over employees and shuts down businesses when it could be negotiating and sorting out this matter. The government needs to be encouraging and constructive, not destructive in its engagement with business. And this is destructive."
The PIAA plans to continue its lobbying efforts on behalf of Bragg. "We will be continuing to make representations to the state government and we'll be making significantly more noise unless we see some evidence that they're negotiating with the Habibs in good faith," Macaulay said. “This business is owed fair commercial compensation for its forced closure.”