Trade skills shortages to dispute resolution models were among the industry issues Printing Industries took to Canberra recently.

Printing Industries National President, Peter Lane, Acting CEO Philip Andersen, and National Employee Relations Director, Greg Parkes, went to Canberra to update and lobby the Minister for Vocational and Technical Education, Mr Gary Hardgrave, and the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Mr Kevin Andrews.  

Mr Lane said Printing Industries was concerned about the current role of Industry Skills Councils.  

"We believe the printing industry is in the best position to identify and manage its future training and education needs and should have the opportunity to do so," he said.  

Mr Lane said Printing Industries had identified a shortage of skilled printing machinists within the industry.  

Mr Andersen said the government was also briefed on Printing Industries support for the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry proposal to establish an institute of trade skills excellence.  

"We believe that this has an important role to play fostering innovative skills across all industries including the printing industry," he said.  

Mr Andersen said the delegation's meeting with Minister Andrews focussed on workplace relations challenges facing the industry.  

"Since so many of our members are either small or medium sized businesses, workplace relations issues such as industrial disputes, dispute resolution and occupational health and safety are ongoing concerns.  

"We told Minister Andrews that we welcomed the reforms already undertaken by the Federal Government to lessen the burden of workplace relations on our industry. Mr Andersen said.

Mr Parkes briefed Minister Andrews on the AIRC decision granting the AMWU application for a points based classification structure in the Graphic Arts-General-Award.  

"We are concerned about the broader ramifications of this decision. We believe it opens the door for other awards to be affected and we are therefore seeking an urgent review," Mr Parkes said.  

"We also informed Minister Andrews of our concern that the pilot program of mediation services as an alternate dispute resolution process to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) has been stifled by the procedural arrangements" Mr Parkes said.  

Mr Parkes said the Minister was also briefed on concerns over the draconian workplace fatality legislation recently introduced in NSW and the ACT.    

"We want the Federal Government to support the introduction of national health and safety legislation in the same way it has introduced legislation for a uniform industrial relations system," he said.  

Mr Andersen said the Ministerial meetings were productive and helped give government a better understanding of the printing industry and its issues.

He said follow-up meetings would be held early in the New Year.