Print's own politician takes on Peter Garrett

Caroline Beinke conquered the printing industry when she wrote The Penfold Buscombe Print Buyer's Guide. Now, she's preparing to go head to head with Peter Garrett when she runs for the seat of Kingsford Smith in Federal Parliament this year.

"I'm pretty nervous," she admits. "He [Garrett] is a national identity and I don't have that. But he's also got a national agenda and my agenda is to go the people of Kingsford Smith with a choice.

"I live and work in the electorate so I plan to keep the campaign local and listen to locals."

Caroline reckons that politics is like religion - it gets handed down from generation to generation and eventually you make your own decision. In her case, she decided to follow her father's footsteps and continue supporting the Liberal party.

"I've had a keen interest in politics from an early age," she said. "I remember letterboxing with my father as a 5 year old. At 28 it takes a lot more to convince people how to vote."

As the national marketing manager of printing conglomerate, GEON, she has learnt to juggle in keeping the two commitments apart. "Juggling is definitely the right way to describe it," she said. "But GEON is very supportive of my interest - they encourage people to have a life outside of work."

But the two industries are quite separate, Caroline admits. "Besides the fact that I need printed flyers and posters there aren't that many similarities," she said.

If Caroline could change anything about printing, it would be the ever-pressing skill shortages. "Printing is constantly evolving so change is inevitable; but I'd like to see more traineeships and apprenticeships and increase our skilled workers," she said.

For now, her focus is on the local issues affecting Kingsford Smith members. "I'm trying to encourage people to ask Peter Garrett what he's done for them in the last four years and should I get elected, I'll make sure to deliver what they want" she said.