News

Mar 30, 2009

Australia’s print Industry faces a drastic drop in annual revenue and 500 direct job losses across the country if the Government implements the Productivity Commission’s report on copyright restrictions for the parallel importation of books.



AMWU National Secretary of the Print Division, Steve Walsh, in Canberra today to take part in the second Printing Industry Working Group, said the union was concerned Australian printers would lose out to China in the push to remove all copyright restrictions from the industry.



“Australia’s printing industry is alive and well, but to implement a rule that removes the preferential ability to print and reprint books on Australian soil would tear a hole in the heart of the industry.



“Losing the copyright restrictions that currently exist would see a reduction of $70 to 80 million per annum to revenue, at a time when the Australian economy needs to retain that revenue and stimulate growth.



“The AMWU is very concerned that a direct ramification of this legislative change would result in 500 direct jobs lost, something that neither the sector nor the country, needs.



“We urge the government to not implement a change to trade policy that would result in job losses of this scale.



“As the book printing competitors who would benefit from the lack of copyright restrictions are located overseas, in developing countries such as China, we would also see a far greater carbon footprint and irresponsible environmental costs to importing greater quantities of books printed overseas.



“We are proud of our Australian Book Printing trade, but it faces a serious threat from the Productivity Commission’s plan to rob it of the very copyright restriction that ensures its success, said Mr Walsh.

Contact Person: Steve Walsh

Contact Email: news@amwu.asn.au

http://www.amwu.org.au/read-article/news-detail/265/Productivity-Commission-attack-on-print-industry-could-cost-500-jobs/