Page 28 - Print21 Nov-Dec 2019

Association News
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Print2Parliament
change that, and make sure that print is given its rightful place in the minds of the politicians and their armies of advisors when
it comes to setting policy and enacting legislation.
This time around some 100 printers, associated professionals, politicians, and advisors gathered in the Mural Hall to marvel at
the gold winning print jobs from the National Print Awards, and
to mingle and meet, to form the beginnings of new relationships and to cement existing ones.
They say every challenge is an opportunity, and while print is fragmented – most print business have less than 20 staff – there
are print businesses, and usually several, in every constituency in the country. Politicians are quick to respond to their local employers, which is part of the reason for the success so far of Print2Parliament. They are, as sa peaker from the opposition Milton Dick MP, told
1 (l-r) Patrick Gorman MP; John Georgantzakos, Spotpress; Senator Matt O’Sullivan
2 (l-r) Kathleen Casford, By Ninja; Tricia Pink, Orangebox, Mathew McFarlane, By Ninja
3 (l-r) Andrew Macaulay, PVCA; Bradley Wruck, ColorCorp; Baden Kirgan, Jeffries Printing
4 (l-r) Sarah Harris, Visual Connections; Ilija Jordanoski, CanPrint, and Debbie Shields, CanPrint
5 Paul Fletcher, Minister for Communication
the audience, firm believers in and buyers of print, hoping it will help keep them in office.
The second Print2Parliament had five main topics that printers were talking to politicians over; energy, training, IR, sustainability, and an Australia first procurement policy.
Energy is a major topic for printers, with costs soaring and renewables so far failing to guarantee supply.
.../continued on page 32
The second mass meeting between politicians and printers has just taken place, with Print21 editor Wayne Robinson
Lour Johnny on the spot in Canberra.
ike them or loathe them, governments and their advisers play a major part in the development of any industry, despite
not knowing too much about
it themselves. Lobbying – the
art of talking to politicians to persuade them of the merits of your viewpoint – is of course a huge industry in itself. As the largest manufacturing industry still standing in the country print ought to be front and centre of the minds of those in Canberra – but due to its fragmented nature print has historically had a low profile.
The second Print2Parliament, produced by the Printing and Visual Communication Association, is part of the Association’s push to
28 Print21 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019