Printing Industries has welcomed the new Federal Government Book Industry Strategy Group announced today.

Printing Industries National Manager, for Policy and Government Affairs, Hagop Tchamkertenian, said the announcement was a follow-up to the successful industry campaign which ended in November 2009 with government support for the retention of territorial copyright.

“Having persuaded the government to support our industry against the Productivity Commission’s recommendations to remove the parallel importation restrictions on books, the government has now laid the foundations for a book industry development plan,” Mr Tchamkertenian said.

“The Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr, has been very clear in his objective in wanting more than just a report. He has said he wants a ‘way forward’ and Printing Industries fully supports this approach.

“Mr Carr said he wanted to see book printers, publishers, distributors and retailers together in one room collaborating with each other and taking responsibility for transforming their industry in a way that ensures its future sustainability.”

Mr Tchamkertenian said Printing Industries was more than happy to be help facilitate this process.

“We are also very happy that Senator Carr sees the printing industry as an integral part of the new communication world and is keen to encourage the adoption of new technology in a digital world,” he said.

Senator Carr said the strategy group would bring together representatives from across the industry to map out the way forward and would develop strategies to address the key issues of supply chain integration and development of viable business models for the digital age.

“The written word may be almost as old as human civilisation itself but this doesn’t mean we can ignore the very real and very rapid advances being made in digital publishing technologies,” he said.

“We are moving into an environment in which the printed book is just one platform among many.

“We have a proud and distinguished literary history in this country thanks to the work of generations of talented authors, publishers and local book manufacturers.

“Australia has the only dynamic and growing independent book selling sector in the English-speaking world.

“I want to keep it that way. We must be prepared to seize the opportunities the digital revolution is offering.”

Senator Carr said the group would be able to tap into the Federal Government’s existing $50 million a year Enterprise Connect program and a broad range of other programs currently in place to assist business transformation.

The Book Industry Strategy Group will operate according to precise terms of reference and is expected to report back within 12 months.