appointments 
Due to the uncertainty surrounding the timing of a federal election, and the need to incorporate overwhelming industry response, Print Month Australia(PMA) has been moved to August 2005 after being originally slated for October 2004. Andy McCourt, Print Month convenor, says, "When PMA was first mooted, Printing Industries and I envisaged a modest first event in 2004, building up to greater things every year thereafter. However, by drupa time it became apparent that PMA had created much higher expectations in the industry and, in order to fulfil those high goals, we needed a clear 12-month run at it for effective organisation and marketing.

The added prospect of an election around October 2004 created uncertainty surrounding access to government, since an industry ’round table’ may be held in the capital in order to galvanise Canberra into taking more notice of Australia’s third largest manufacturing sector. August 2005 also gives us the opportunity to promote at Pacprint and the National Print Awards."

Gary Donnison, PIAA CEO, says the added lead time was essential to ensure the industry "can put its best foot forward". He also believes that the industry will not be disadvantaged by the delay, despite it taking place after the Federal election. It was also being ticketed obliquely as a call to arms in light of such industry threats as the eTree initiative.

"Our expectation was that we would have an election in November. An October event would have forced both sides of the government to recognise the industry before going to the polls. However, with such a wide window of possible election dates being suggested, we need to postpone it to make it much more effective in the political context," says Donnison

"Also, people have been very positive about the event and are looking forward to it. To put Print Month on any earlier would cause us to run the risk of it being unorganised and lack the impact it can have."

Printing Industries is planning a formal launch of PMA 2005 as part of the industry ‘round-table’ in October this year. The ensuing ten months will be used to build up to a month-long series of events, educationals and promotion intended to boost the Australian printing, paper and allied industries in the eyes of business, government and consumers.