Bad news indeed for a broad range of printing companies for sure if Labor implement their election promise.
Labor made a pre-election promise to cut Parliamentary staff and related allowances of MPs including a $50,000 reduction in the printing allowances.
The Coalition Government increased the allowances last year from $125,000 to $150,000 and added a provision that allowed a maximum $67,500 of unspent allowance to be rolled over into the next year.
Printing Industries CEO Philip Andersen said that both political parties made extravagant spending promises during the election campaign that would have to be paid for regardless of who won.
“But cutting printing allowances is not the way to pay for them, particularly when it involves the most effective and retentive way of getting your message across, direct mail,” he said.
“If the Labor Government is going to fulfill its promise of greater accountability and transparency then it’s going to need to communicate consistently with the electorate. It needs to be innovative with its communications if it wants people to understand and appreciate its important messages.
Our industry has technology and innovative processes that can be used to enhance government communication, making it attractive and individual and increasing its effectiveness.
“But you need to know how to use it effectively and the best way of doing this is to talk to the printing industry.” he said.
Printing Industries Association of Australia
www.printnet.com.au
