The meeting identified representation, advocacy, networking and education and training as areas of common interest. Printing Industries and Package Council of Australia will continue their discussion and consultations in the month ahead.

Susan Heaney, president, Printing Industries says “The Boards of both associations were convinced that there is a need for greater co-operation, consolidation and, potentially, mergers between the various existing associations in the printing, packaging and labelling supply chains.”

David Martin, president, Packaging Council Australia says “While there has been significant consolidation through mergers amongst companies across the industry, the same has not occurred amongst their representative associations. For our industry’s representation to maintain relevance and scale, consolidation is a necessity.”

As a first step the meeting agreed that the two organisations would:

• Review industry awards to identify areas of overlap and possible integration.

• Better promote the environmental credentials of packaging, print and paper by linking Two Sides Australia to the PCA’s highly successful schools program.

• Jointly review the outcomes of the Prime Minister’s Taskforce on Manufacturing to identify and respond to issues relevant to the printing and packaging sector.

• Hold combined networking functions on business issues and the future of the print and packaging sector.

• Promote skill formation by ensuring the packaging sector is actively involved in the industry education and training system.

• Identify areas for collaboration in exhibitions, trade shows and conferences.

The Boards of both organisations will continue to work together to provide a more effective and co-ordinated industry voice and representation on the key common issues confronting their members.

Both Printing Industries and the PCA will also be discussing these matters with other related industry organisations with the aim of encouraging them to join the search for more effective representation and business advocacy.

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