The Print & Visual Communication Association (PVCA) has launched an industry petition calling on federal, state and local government agencies to stop buying printed matter in China. “At this time of disruption to our economy from Covid-19…it seems incongruous for government to be spending tax dollars overseas on print that is readily available in Australia.”
2019 PVCA National Print Awards
“Members across the country have provided PVCA with examples of Federal, State and Local government agencies procuring print from overseas, particularly China,” says Andrew Macaulay, CEO PVCA.
“For too many years, the decline of manufacturing in Australia has been met with cavalier indifference by our Governments. Disruption to our economy by Covid-19 has highlighted this problem. Yet, offshore procurement of printed matter continues by all levels of Federal, State and Local Government and their authorities.
“Now is the time for Government to buy Print in Australia. Taxpayer dollars should not be spent in China when Australian SME printers can provide the same product.”
PVCA has written to the Treasurer and senior Minister’s seeking urgent redress on Government print procurement to ensure that money is being spent with Australian SMEs. “We have now escalated this communication to the Prime Minister,” Macaulay says.
“At this time of disruption to our economy from CoVid19, and the requirement for Government to spend 300 billion dollars on stimulus packages to assist SME businesses and their employees, it seems incongruous for Government to be spending tax dollars overseas on print that is readily available in Australia. This procurement could assist Australian SMEs.
“Australian printers provide WH&S benefits, maintain environmental standards, and remunerate within award conditions that all far exceed any of the markets where the Australian Government agencies are procuring their print. The market is not a level playing field.
“We seek your support for this initiative by signing the petition in the following link, https://www.change.org/PrintsAlive and sharing this petition with your staff, customers and suppliers and seeking their support.
“If the print industry backs itself, by backing it’s industry association, together we will give print and packaging a very strong voice.
“It is the time for Australian vitality, enterprise and innovation to be the driving force for the re-emergence of a revitalised domestic print industry. Australian print and packaging businesses are predominantly SMEs, they operate in every regional town as well as our capital cities and industrial centres.
“We petition Federal, State and Local Government to lead by example and say NO MORE to offshore print procurement. The solution is simple:
1. Federal, State and Local Government need to lead by example by mandating the compulsory purchasing of their own print from Australian owned & operated print manufacturers.
2. Federal Government needs to require the same WH&S standards, the same Environmental standards, the same employee benefits standards it mandates in Australia, from any foreign bidder. Australian print can compete on a level playing field, but that is not how Australian Government procurement works.
"Now, is the time to sustain Australian industry, save Australian jobs and secure Australia's future prosperity! Now, is the time to sign this petition.”
https://www.change.org/PrintsAlive
