Page 76 - Print 21 July-August 2019

Association News
News updates from the printing industry
PrintEx, Awards, AusPost, Govt, Training
PIAA CEO
Andrew Macaulay outlines multiple developments the industry association is working on.
PrintEx is here. With PrintEx comes
the National Print Awards, our annual celebration of our
industry for ingenuity, quality and creativity. Together, these also provide an opportunity for printers to promote their business to clients.
PrintEx is the showcase
of print organised by the printing industry, for the printing industry. This is a great collaboration between Printing Industries and Visual Connections, which brings the supply and production sides of the industry together. Networking and learning go hand in hand.
We encourage you to get your tickets to the National Print Awards before they sell out. The Print Industry Craftsmanship Awards dinners in each State have been well attended, the quality of entries strong, and competition fierce. The best
of the PICAs will be awarded medals at the NPAs. The 2019 judging panel for the National Print Awards and the Print Industry Creativity Awards brought together internationally recognised printers.
Following industry feedback, independent judges have appraised the print entries from an international best of practice perspective. All bar one of the judges were international judges. The judging panel will remain confidential until NPA awards are announced. Entries in the awards were higher than in 2018.
Recently PIAA president Walter Kuhn and I represented the Australian visual communications industry at the World Print & Communications Forum, held in conjunction with Intergraf annual
Commercial benefits: Andrew Macaulay, CEO, PIAA
review of the newly elected federal government, and PIAA will continue to monitor this and inform industry.
The return of the federal government with a working majority presents opportunities for the print sector, and
for members of PIAA. We continue to actively lobby for productivity enhancement, rather than partisan politics. Post election the PIAA has communicated with the energy minister, the communications minister and the attorney general on cost of power, Australia Post and Fair Work Act reform respectively.
PIAA has also met with the parliamentary secretary to the prime minister.
The interests of the visual communications sector will be heard by this government, who have made it clear that
Energy remains a significant issue for printers. This is a public policy area impacted
by both federal and state governments. PIAA will continue to keep our politicians and public servants focused on reduction of energy prices and stability of supply.
WH&S continues to be
the key tangible service that PIAA delivers to members. Members have been assisted
in all states through whole of life of the employment cycle. These services are seen by many members as the safety net for their business. We urge you to use the PIAA WH&S service
as an extension of your HR operations. Engage us in your hiring, rostering, employee management, development, disciplinary and exit planning. All of these services are included in membership of your industry association.
Our PIAA directors are constantly seeking feedback on what members like and don’t like, and what members want from their association that they may not currently be aware of or getting. We are very keen
to adapt and evolve with the industry needs.
PIAA is currently reviewing a number of commercial benefits for members. Two of these opportunities have just been approved by the board and will be launched to the membership shortly. Others are in the process of investigation.
A positive PIAA AGM was convened in May, in Sydney, with national satellite venues in Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. The satellite venue model was a suggestion from members, who wanted to have the opportunity to socialise after the AGM.
It was a great initiative,
and aided an engaging and informative meeting. Quorum was achieved, and agenda followed. A number of the satellite venues proceeded into a collegial social event post AGM, which progressed for some time after the meeting. 21
“Post election the PIAA has communicated with the energy minister, the communications minister and the attorney general on cost of power, Australia Post and Fair Work Act reform respectively.”
conference. The conference
was held under the banner of Print Matters, and despite some pessimistic speakers, the trends being experienced in worldwide bode well for Australian industry. We met with suppliers of services to the print industry who PIAA intends to bring to Australia in the coming year as speakers at industry events.
Walter Kuhn and I recently met with the CEO of Australia Post. This private meeting between our organisations was constructive, and it has opened a pathway for constructive dialogue and collaboration.
PIAA appoints the
print industry employer representatives on the
Media Super Board. Industry superannuation funds perform an important role for both employer and employee. There are some concerns about the policy environment for industry super funds with the legislative
they will use their working majority to reduce red tape
for business and reform the Fair Work Act. We aim to work with Government to deliver tangible benefit to members. The return of the NSW
state government also has given impetus to PIAA efforts for national reform of VET delivery through TAFE.
PIAA continues to advocate for the protection (or expansion) of VET training and funding. Progress is being made on this front with the president and CEO having
met with key stakeholders in Queensland, and the president and PIAA VET policy officer scheduled to meet with key stakeholders in NSW shortly. PIAA has secured backing of AMWU in this activity, and we have commenced an industry engagement process which
is scheduled to commence in Queensland this month.
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