Print is staying in Victoria: government speaks about Stream Solutions print tender

Placing the role of purchasing print in the hands of Stream Solutions is expected to reduce costs to the government by 15 per cent. This cost reduction was listed as being a chief reason behind the decision, citing statistics that in an average year, government departments spent $15-20 million on printing. Victoria is the first state government in Australia to employ such a system and it is expected that other governments will also follow suit.

"This is also a more professional, transparent and accountable method of buying printing. Over a number of years, print-buying has become highly decentralised and not subject to adequate scrutiny," said Andrew Hockley, director of strategic communications in the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

Hockley also have his assurance that the decision would not be detrimental to the printing industry in Victoria. "This move should actually make it easier for small and regional businesses to deal with Government," he said. "Printing is one of the largest manufacturing industries in Victoria and a major employer. Victorian Government Departments have an obligation to support Victorian printers."

The message was confirmed by Andrew Price, Ceo Stream Solutions who says Victorian and Australian printers have nothing to fear from the deal. He maintains there are many ways of producing the promised 15 per cent savings apart from lower prices. “Mostly we save money by putting the right job on the right press; a two-colour job on a two-colour press and a four-colour job on a perfector. That’s our expertise, that’s what we do,” he said.

He also disabused the industry of the fear that Stream will offshore printing to Asia, by pointing out that less than one per cent of its work is currently printed in Asia, apart from work for its Asian customers. He said he looks forward to working with the industry associations, remarking that two senior executives of Printing Industries were speakers at last year’s Stream conference at the Gold Coast. “I look forward to inviting them again,” he said.

Also, contrary to report here is no indication that Stream Solutions is about to be sold, if anything the opposite is likely to happen as Toll tightens its ownership by lifting its share holding to slightly under 75 per cent. “I think they like us,” said Price.

After a six-month tender process, Stream Solution was appointed.
Streams wins tender
It will specialise in the strategic sourcing of printing based on the ability to handle large volumes of work with different printers at the same time. The contract is for an initial period of three years.

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