The Printing Industries Association of Australia (PIAA) has produced a scorecard for the South Australian elections taking place this weekend, rating the political parties based on how their policies will affect print.
Gold stars are awarded for policies which favour print, while silver stars are given for undefined or detrimental policies for the industry.
The Coalition has 13 gold stars, the most of any party. It is the only party which aligns with PIAA policy to abolish state-based renewable energy targets over and above a federal target.
The Labor party has eight gold stars, with five coming from the Infrastructure category, with PIAA noting the party is committed to spending $2bn on road, rail and port assets, will remove seven of the most congested level crossings, and will build a multiuser, bulk-commodity deep water port in the Spencer Gulf.
The Greens have nine gold stars, with five coming from the party’s promise to ensure that
all Government programs, investments, resource allocation and procurement includes a Jobs Impact Assessment, and that it will legislate for local procurement policies that prioritise SA jobs. It is the only party which aligns with PIAA policy for the Buy Local / South Australia
First government procurement.
SA-Best, Nick Xenophon’s fledgling political party, has just two gold stars.
Andrew Macaulay, CEO, PIAA, says, “We are a non-partisan group. We have members across the political spectrum, we are charged with confirming the policies of the parties relative to what is good or bad for industry. Those words in the scorecard come directly from the political party.
“The first column is what printing industry members have told us they need. The other columns are what the political parties have responded to our queries with how they will deal with them.
“The highest rating was given to the Greens for reinstating VET training in South Australia, which the Labor party only cut off a few months ago. Now the government is going to the election saying they will reinstate it.
“What we are trying to do is not how we would vote, it is what the policies mean to industry.
“The Labor party got a big tick for infrastructure because it was all real solutions to transport that will help industry, whereas others were not as specific.
“The biggest issue facing is can you believe that the promises from the parties relative to energy supply certainty and cost, because those are the two biggest issues facing industry, South Australia has the biggest problem.
"In line with the priorities that members determine for us, the key policy areas reviewed are:
* Energy: immediate relief for industry, stable policy, lower prices and more reliable energy.
* Education: increased funding of apprenticeships for print, promotion of VET, and career pathways into print from school.
* Tax: reduced burden on small business and lower compliance costs.
* Infrastructure: government/companies to buy local and a commitment to upgrade transport in both urban and regional areas."
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