The Association then asked the major political parties to state their positions on these issues. These covered employee relations, taxation, the environment, industry development, research and development, and training through to general taxation, superannuation and the Australian constitution. This page contains a summary of responses by the major political parties and copies of their actual responses.

UNFAIR DISMISSALS
Industry position calls for simplification of processes and exemptions for small business from unfair dismissal laws.
The Liberal Party supports exemptions for small business from unfair dismissal laws and the creation of a single uniform system to help reduce complexity. The ALP, Democrats and the Greens all advocate changes to help reduce compliance costs. The Democrats do not support exemptions for small business.   Back

GENERAL EMPLOYEE ENTITLEMENTS AND REDUNDANCY SCHEME (GEERS)
Industry position is for an alignment of benefits with the Award and Termination, Change and Redundancy provisions. The industry opposes any top-up provisions.
The Liberal Party supports GEERS and supports benefits remaining consistent with Award Termination, Change and Redundancy provisions. The ALP advocates a levy, to be collected with compulsory superannuation, to apply to businesses employing more than 20 employees (about 15 per cent of our industry). The Democrats support the existing GEERS scheme but would like it to be legislated and funded by both the government and employers. The Greens advocate a government administered scheme funded by compulsory levies on employers to protect 100 per cent of all workers' entitlements.     Back

MATERNITY LEAVE
Industry position is to oppose paid maternity leave provisions. Job sharing is inappropriate to meet the staffing needs of companies, particularly small printing companies.
The Liberal Party has introduced lump sum payments of $3,000 rising to $5,000 in 2008 payable to all new mothers. The ALP is promising a baby care payment that will be tax free but Means Tested. Government funded paid maternity leave and job sharing is supported by the Democrats, while the Greens support a National parental leave scheme paid at the rate of average weekly earnings for 18 weeks, with a further 34 weeks of unpaid leave and a right to return to work part-time.    Back

GST ON BOOKS
Industry position advocates all printed matter conveying knowledge and information (especially books) to be free of GST.
The Liberal Party does not support granting any printed matter GST free status. The Democrats support the industry position and say that at the very least books should be GST free. The Greens oppose GST and would definitely take it off books. ALP policy not available.    Back

GST ANOMALIES
The industry position is that anomalies such as a "tax on a tax" need to be removed since they are both unjust and inefficient.
The Liberal Party sees this issue as an issue for State governments. The Democrats support the industry position while the Greens support the removal of any tax that amplifies the effect of the GST.    Back

BUSINESS ACTIVITY STATEMENT (BAS)
Given that most printing industry businesses are small, the Industry position is that the BAS should be further simplified to reduce compliance costs.
The Liberal Party says it continues to implement measures to reduce compliance costs such as those announced in this year's Budget. The ALP is committed to reducing compliance costs. Similar policy positions are advocated by the Democrats and the Greens.    Back

COMPLIANCE BURDEN
Industry position is that the objective of good government should be to work with business to identify ways of  easing the existing compliance burden. Business should be seen as creators of jobs and not revenue agents for government.
As far as possible the Liberal Party says it seeks to minimise this burden. The Nationals are committed to minimising the compliance burden on businesses. The ALP is promising a simpler method for calculating GST payments. The Democrats are promising better management and overall reduction of demand for additional information by government departments. The Greens are supportive of small businesses and the role they play in employment creation but are mindful of the need for business to be transparent.    Back

AUSTRALIAN MADE
The Industry position calls for government procurement policies to be used in a more strategic manner to help increase local content. Purchase of Australian made products should be vigorously promoted.
The Liberal Party's policy ensures Commonwealth agencies source at least 10 per cent of their purchases from small and medium enterprises. The Nationals see government procurement policy as promoting local industry. The ALP agrees with the industry's position and views government purchasing as a key industry policy tool supporting Australian industries and creating jobs. The Democrats also support the industry's position of giving preference to local industry but they advocate an emphasis on small business. The Greens also are supportive of local purchasing.   Back

ENVIRONMENTAL LABELLING
Industry position - the principle of developing a national system of environmental labelling standards for printed matter is supported provided it is accompanied by a period of extensive industry consultation and the input of the industry is properly reflected in the arrangements that are finally adopted.
The Nationals and Liberals both expressed a willingness to discuss the merits of a national approach. The ALP is committed to life cycle approach in evaluating the environmental impacts of goods and services and is supportive of eco-labelling. The Democrats support environmental labelling of printed matter and are willing to work with the industry to progress the issue. The Greens are strong advocates.   Back

CORPORATION'S LAW - INSOLVENCY
Industry position - Printing Industries is seeking clarification of the intent of Sections 588FA and 588 FE (2). The Association remains concerned about unintended consequences such as companies being required to return to creditors payments they have received from companies in the preceding period prior to the appointment of administrators and liquidators.
The Liberal Party is confident that existing laws provide adequate safeguards. The Democrats acknowledge the printing industry concerns and believe that changes to corporate and insolvency laws are critical to prevent companies avoiding their obligations in times of corporate collapse. The Greens support the guarantee of employee entitlements. The ALP has not yet released a policy.    Back

INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT
Printing Industries  advocates introduction of a broad based printing industry scheme to help the industry play a strategic role in the emergence of the knowledge/IT economy. Printing Industries also advocates allocation of specific government funds to facilitate the implementation of the recommendations of the PRINT21 - Printing Industries Action Agenda.    
The Liberals and Nationals do not support sectoral specific programs and instead encourage printing companies to use existing government programs. Both the Liberals and Nationals see further progress on the PRINT21 Action Agenda dependent on the industry continuing its role to lead implementation of the Action Agenda. The ALP sees the PRINT21 Action Agenda as providing the future growth blueprint for the printing industry. The ALP is willing to work with the industry to help strengthen the industry and create future jobs. The Democrats advocate the development of strategic industry plans and see an enhanced role and responsibility for government in the emerging global knowledge economy. The Greens support interventionist industry policies and support a government printing industry plan backed with government funding.    Back

INDUSTRY RATIONALISATION
The Industry favours the government and industry working together to explore ways to develop profitability or, as an alternative, effective exit strategies.
The Liberal and Nationals do not support raising the costs of entry to the industry as a way of overcoming low entry costs which exacerbate the overcapacity problem. Neither the Liberals or Nationals are supportive of industry exit strategies. The ALP is committed to working with the industry to explore ways of improving profitability. The ALP hopes alternative exist strategies will not be necessary.  The ALP supports the introduction of labour adjustment measures as well as training and educational opportunities should significant rationalisation take place. The Democrats have in the past supported targeted industry assistance measures and programs.  The Greens consider this issue to be part of an interventionist government policy.    Back

INDUSTRY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
The industry believes Government support is required to improve the research and development of innovative new products comprising new materials, processes and systems.
The Liberal and National parties are encouraging the printing industry to use existing government programs. The ALP promises to deliver new policies to improve our innovation system. The Democrats advocate the restoration of the 150 per cent tax deduction for business R&D and increased funding to existing programs. The Greens support enhanced R&D.    Back

RESTORATION OF THE TARIFF CONCESSION SYSTEM
Industry position calls for the immediate removal of the three per cent tariff on imported raw materials that are currently not manufactured in Australia.
The Liberals and Nationals remain committed to the removal of the current three per cent tariff on imported raw materials as soon as it is economically responsible to do so. The ALP has no firm position but will consider the printing industry's view when developing their policy. The Democrats advocate a freezing of any further reduction and will only support reductions if trading partners also reduce them. The Greens would support the removal of the three per cent tariff if the materials in question could not be produced in Australia.    Back

INDUSTRY TRAINING
The industry position encourages more workplace training and to have such training recognised and accredited. It is also to ensure that all apprentices, irrespective of their age, benefit from existing government incentives.
The Liberal Party says it is supporting new apprenticeships and has provided both funding and direct incentives to employers to take on new apprentices and mature age workers. The ALP remains committed to increasing apprentice numbers and encouraging young people into training for traditional trades. The Democrats support increasing incentives for employers to create apprenticeships and traineeships. They also support increased workplace training and improving opportunities for mature aged workers. The Greens support more apprenticeships and training.     Back

TAXATION - GENERAL
The industry says taxation legislation has become more and more complex with each new government and urgently requires simplification.
The Liberal Party say it continues to work to keep the complexity of tax laws as low as possible. The ALP policy is yet to be released. The Greens support a simplification of the Australian tax system but do not support a lowering of the overall tax burden. The Democrats are supportive of the industry position.    Back

BRACKET CREEP
Printing Industries believes that as a means of preserving the real value of earnings, taxation brackets should be indexed in line with the annual CPI index.
The Liberals believe that in the current low inflation environment, the impact of bracket creep is subdued. The Liberals are not supportive of indexing the tax scales and instead prefer to give tax cuts. The Democrats support the industry's position. The Greens believe everyone should pay their fair share of tax and do not have a view on bracket indexation. The ALP policy is yet to be released.  

PERSONAL TAX RATES
The industry position is to align personal income tax rates with those of leading industrialised nations such as the United States of America. The Liberals are committed to ensuring the personal tax system remains internationally competitive. The Democrats believe that if tax concessions and loopholes are closed, income tax rates could be reduced. The Greens do not support reductions in personal tax rates to enable our rates to be aligned with that of other countries. The ALP policy is yet to be released.    Back

SUPERANNUATION SURCHARGE
The Industry position supports the removal of the superannuation surcharge. The Liberal Party remains committed to further reductions of the superannuation surcharge.
The Democrats support the superannuation surcharge. The Greens also advocate the retention of the surcharge. The ALP policy is yet to be released.    Back

BANK FEES
The Industry believes possible regulation of bank fees and charges may be warranted given continued financial disadvantage to industry and concern and the community service obligations under which banks operate.
The Liberal Party's says its policy is to reduce the cost of banking. It has worked with State and Territory governments to remove the FID and debits taxes. Debits tax is to be abolished by 2005 following agreement with the States. The cost of banking will continue to fall as a result of RBA reforms to the payments system. The ALP will ensure that banks provide affordable bank accounts and services. The Greens would support a government inquiry into bank fees which may result in greater government fee regulation. The Democrats do not yet have a policy on this.    Back

AUSTRALIAN CONSTITUTION
The industry position is to support the extension of the current three-year political term to a minimum four-year term.
The Liberal Party does not intend to pursue this issue at this time and the Prime Minister is not a supporter of fixed terms for the House of Representatives. Any changes will have to be made via a referendum. The ALP's policy calls for simultaneous four-year terms for the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Democrats support a four-year term for the House of Representatives and eight years for the Senate. The Greens support fixed terms for both Houses of Parliament.    Back

Top issues- How the parties compare (pdf - 68 kb) This table compares political party responses to the top 10 issues.

Labor Party response (pdf - 260.5 kb) The Australian Labor Party's response to issues affecting the Australian printing industry.

Australian Greens response (pdf - 62 kb) The Australian Greens response to issues affecting the Australian printing industry.

Australian Democrats response (pdf - 113.6 kb) The Australian Democrats response to issues affecting the Australian printing industry.

Liberal Party response (pdf - 1203 kb) The Liberal Party of Australia response to issues affecting the Australian printing industry.

National Party of Australia response (pdf - 97.5 kb) National Party of Australia response to issues affecting the Australian printing industry.