Printing Industries says the Federal Government’s new print procurement plan is a good outcome for the industry because it provides access for print companies to government contracts and includes a budgeted five-year commitment to print.
Philip Andersen, CEO, Printing Industries says, “After almost 12 months of negotiation and discussion with officials from Centrelink and the Department of Finance, we believe the new arrangements are a good outcome for the industry and for the continuing important emphasis on print as a primary communication medium.
“We are also pleased that the government has accepted our position that contracts should not be exclusively based on price, but will also be based on service and quality. This is a very important win for us and for our members and for print itself at a time when this highly effective and environmentally friendly communication medium is being threatened from all directions.”
According to Andersen a key component of Printing Industries discussions with the government had been highlighting the importance of departments having close and ongoing relationships with print suppliers that could help deliver value for money, access to innovative processes and products, improvements to service and quality and greater responsiveness to individual agency and department needs. He says, “Our industry is dynamic and innovative and is taking advantage of a vast array of new technologies to improve and expand its services. It is heartening that we now have this commitment from the Federal Government at this time.”
The arrangements will allow 12 government agencies to access printing services from an approved pool of 176 suppliers comprising printing, print management, creative and design and warehousing and distribution companies.
The 12 agencies are: Australian Bureau of Statistics; Australian Hearing; Centrelink; ComSuper; Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts; Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs; Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Department of Health and Ageing; Department of Human Services; Department of Immigration and Citizenship; Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet; and Medicare Australia.
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