Following on from the PIAA condemnation of the Qantas decision to source printing quotes from offshore companies, a campaign to name and shame other Australian corporations and government agencies sourcing print work off shore has been set in motion by Printing Industries.
The Print in Australia campaign, which is in the development stage, will seek to identify organisations and government departments who are getting print work done off shore, find out why and through education and negotiations, bring the work back to local printers.
Hagop Tchamkertenian, national manager for policy and government affairs at Printing Industries told Australian Printer that since the campaign was announced, he had received a number of emails from Association members identifying printing clients placing work overseas.
 |
| Hagop Tchamkertenian, national manager for policy and government affairs |
He says, “The main aim of the campaign is not to shame, but to inform. We want to have discussions with these printing clients and persuade them to use local printing. Especially in the cases of government departments as tax payer’s money should be used supporting local industry and local jobs.
“It’s a global environment and we can’t just say that you must get your print work done in Australia. But we are trying to exhaust all avenues before the work goes off shore. We seek to educate corporate Australia and government that there are more issues than just the lowest price to consider.”
“If work ends up going offshore and in some cases it will due to the realities of globalisation, then Printing Industries’ initiatives such as the China in Focus initiative is aimed at helping Australian printing companies benefit from globalisation.
“The initiative focused on assisting local print suppliers to form strategic partnerships with their Asian counterparts so that if in certain circumstances the printing was or had to be done offshore, than they could at least secure a portion of the overall revenue stream.”
Australian Printer has also received emails from the local industry spotlighting a number of organisations sourcing print work offshore.
Meanwhile, commenting on the offshoot campaign against the Qantas Print Management tender, Printing Industries outlined that it is inappropriate for an iconic Australian company like Qantas to request offshore exploration in its print management tender when more than adequate capacity exists in Australia to competitively meet its’ needs.
Tchamkertenian says, “Surely, it is the prerogative of the tenderer to determine how they can best submit the most competitive tender.”
While reports of the controversial tender clause are yet to be verified, a statement from the airline outlines the new TMA contract will not include overseas print work.
The Qantas statement says, “We understand that IPMG/SYNC Communications is disappointed with the outcome. We can confirm that the package of work awarded to TMA is services 100 per cent on shore. Qantas has stringent quality and professional requirements in place for all contractors and this includes TMA.”
Tchamkertenian continues that Printing Industries has welcomed Qantas’ statement that the work will remain in Australia.
He says, “The Association’s campaign is aimed at ensuring that future print management tenders are devoid of controversial and unacceptable clauses that threaten the local printing industry and jobs.”
Printing Industries Association of Australia
www.printnet.com.au
