Print industries group to lobby Federal Government

The Australian printing industry has a new political voice in Canberra following the inaugural meeting of the high-powered Printing Industry Working Group.

The group was initiated by the Federal Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, following discussions with the Printing Industries Association of Australia earlier this year.

Printing Industries CEO Philip Andersen, said that the group had been set up to represent issues across all sectors of the industry.  He said the Government's formation of the Working Group acknowledged the significance and contribution to the Australian economy made by the printing industry.

The Working Group members include Printing Industries' and trade union representatives, industry representatives as well as senior Innovation, Industry Science and Research departmental staff. Printing Industries' National President, Jim Atkinson, was elected Chairman of the Group.

Andersen said a core responsibility for the Working Group was to keep the Minister informed on the sustainability of the industry and on its adoption of innovation.

"This is a great opportunity to work with the Australian Government to identify the issues and opportunities that face our industry and to work with it on resolutions where these are necessary," he said.

Andersen said the meeting identified and prioritised a range of issues affecting the printing industry including the 30-day rule [book publishing in the local market]; the emission trading scheme and its impact on the industry; succession planning; the training skills shortage; industry promotion; industry sustainability; offshore business threats and the future of manufacturing in Australia.

"From this list we grouped the issues into three categories that make their management easier and better aligned with relevant areas of government."

These were:

1.      Sustainability: (with environmental and economic sub sectors).

2.      People: encompassing training, attracting people into industry careers and skills shortage issues.

3.      Innovation: covering the areas of investment, being an industry in transition, moving from ink on paper into new innovation areas and media convergence.

Atkinson said that a series of papers would be prepared by the Working Group identifying the issues and providing direct feedback on solutions wanted by the industry.

"We will then be working within the Group to get government understanding and, wherever necessary, support and resolution of these issues," he said. "I invite everyone in our industry to take the opportunity of voicing their issues and suggestions with Printing Industries and to be part of the solutions that we will be wanting to work with the government on developing.

"This is a great opportunity for our industry collectively to build on the links we have already established with the government for regular and formal input into the direct and indirect issues that affect us. Our Group has been set up to help find solutions and also to champion our cause, not just within this arm of government, but with their assistance to champion our causes and become an advocate with all other relevant areas of government.

"The more government is informed about who we are and what we do the greater will be the benefit to our industry and to the futures of our businesses," Atkinson said.

All feedback can be directed to philip@printnet.com.au or hagop@printnet.com.au phone 1800 227 425.