Philip Andersen, CEO of Printing Industries says he believes for an iconic Australian company like Qantas to insert such a clause in its latest print tender will be unacceptable to the tens of thousands of print industry workers.

Andersen adds that Qantas should not be suggesting how print is sourced as that was something best determined by individual print suppliers.

He says, “We do not question modern business realities as Printing Industries appreciates that we do operate in an increasingly globalised environment. We do however have an issue with the active encouragement of offshore outsourcing in tender documents.”

Also commenting, Hagop Tchamkertenian, national manager for policy and government affairs at Printing Industries said the Association was gearing up for a campaign to persuade Qantas to remove the controversial clause from future printing tenders.

Tchamkertenian says, “We are also making representation directly to the Qantas Board highlighting our concerns and the concerns of the industry.”

“Besides the potential impact on local industry, Qantas must also realise that printed work done offshore is unlikely to abide by the strict labour, occupational health and safety and environmental standards that apply to local printing work.”

Tchamkertenian concluded that Qantas also has to appreciate that there is a significant environmental cost associated with getting printing done offshore and then having those items shipped to Australia.

He says, “The carbon miles associated with offshore printing can be significant.”

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