The second annual Print2Parliament is a day away in Canberra with over 50 federal MPs meeting printers to discuss the issues effecting the industry while also have the chance to view the gold medal winning work from the National Print Awards.
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, who has a background in print, is on the guest list for the event on Wednesday night with Paul Fletcher, the federal minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts to give the opening address.
Over 50 printers are also making the trip to Canberra for the second annual event organised by the Print & Visual Communication Association (PVCA) and sponsored by Media Super, which coincides with International Print Day, a global social media event to promote print.
With parliament in session tomorrow the MPs will be coming in and out of the event between the bells of parliament.
Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar is also on the guest list along with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and shadow minister for small business Brendan O’Connor.
A number of local MPs are also attending to meet with their constituents that have made the trip to Canberra for the event.
PVCA chief executive officer Andrew Macaulay says plans are well in hand for a great night and has encouraged all printers in the room to make a point of speaking to the politicians and policy makers.
“We would really encourage industry members to talk and get in the face of our policy makers and decision makers because print is so ubiquitous that people take it for granted. They think they understand it because they touch one part of it but there is so much more involved in the service offering,” Macaulay told Sprinter.
“Printers are selling a whole lot of other services like inventory management and marketing services.
“There is an economy that they are very much part of. Printers needs to really reinforce what stable employers they are. They are the largest manufacturing employer group in the country and they need to remember that message. Collectively the industry is employing 600,000 people.”
The big issues that Macaulay believes need discussion are around apprenticeship training, vocational education, tax, energy and small business practice.
International Print Day celebrations in Australia begin at 9am (AEDT) and 11am (NZDT) in New Zealand.
Two social media hashtags have been set up to promote the day over the 24 hours, #IPD19 and this year’s theme #Print2Gether, which celebrates partnerships within the industry and all the relationships from idea to execution that enhance the creativity, quality, and vitality of print.
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