The Electoral Commission of Queensland is also contributing to the boom time for the state’s printers, with more than three million ballot papers expected to be printed by February 7.

GoPrint, the Queensland State Government’s printing house will once again reap the guaranteed benefits of printing the ballot sheets. However, private firms are snapping up their fair share of the official work for the printing of posters and signs.

According to Geoff Greene, Liberal Party state director, a typical direct mailout can involve up to 20,000 sheets of paper for every party in each electorate.

Residents in approximately half of the electorates, especially the hotly contested ones, can expect to receive two direct mailouts from each party, resulting in an avalanche of around 80,000 mail pieces.

Local delivery firms also received a boost, being chosen over Australia Post because of the cost, which averages around 4¢ an envelope or $800 per mailout.

Government estimates place the cost of printing the how-to-vote cards at $80,000 for the 30,000 or so pieces that each party is likely to produce per electorate. Labor, which will contest every Queensland seat, could expect to print up to 2.5 million cards, plus 400,000 brochures and other related materials.

It is not unusual for printers in each state to receive a rush of work during election time, with council elections also producing a rush of demand for press time.

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