Printing Industries chief executive Philip Andersen said the campaign aims to educate print buyers about the capabilities of the local printing industry and the importance of giving local printers a chance to bid for the work.

He added that a “core component” of the campaign is also to ensure that tender documents do not suggest or stipulate that printers source work from overseas.

“Printing Industries believes that it is the prerogative of the tenderer to determine how they can best submit the most competitive tender. How or where the production is done should not be a tender requirement,” he said.

The campaign was launched following news that Qantas tender documents included clauses about “low-cost country sourcing”.

Both Qantas and contract winner TMA Australia have since said that their deal stipulates “100% onshore produced printing”.

Andersen emphasised that printing companies with offshore arms are not in the campaign’s sights, and that the association has actively promoted the development of offshore partnerships by local companies.

“Printing Industries acknowledges that we operate in a global environment and that not all printing that is commissioned in Australia will be done onshore. Some will inevitably be done offshore for a host of reasons,” he said.

“Our China In Focus initiative was developed with the specific aim of assisting Australian printers to form strategic alliances with their Asian counterparts. Thus, if in certain circumstances the printing or some elements of print production process had to be done offshore, then they could at least secure a portion of the overall revenue stream.”

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