In a hotly contested election members of the peak industry body PIAA have voted the progressives onto the board against the conservatives.

Three of the four contested spots went to the modernist element, with only Tasmania opting to vote for the conservative side.

Modernising candidates controversially favoured by PIAA president David Leach that were elected included Kieran May from Accross Business, and Chris Segaert from Permanent Press, who were returned to the two national seats, with new challenger Roy Aldrich, director of Eastern Studios, missing out on a spot.

It was Aldrich who launched a blistering public attack on Leach for his support for certain candidates accusing Leach of ‘trying to select his own board’. Aldrich also took aim at the PIAA, not for the first time, a year ago he was one of the main protagonists involved in an attempt to set up an independent off-site training course for Victorian apprentices when the PIAA was going for on-site training.

Queensland maintained its status quo, with Leach-backed Susan Heaney successfully defending her seat against Tom Eckersley from Print Approach.

Robert Yeates from Huon Valley News returns to the Tasmanian seat, beating back progressive challenger Craig Pearce, managing director of Flying Colours Printing.

PIAA president David Leach was unavailable for comment.

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