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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2007-11-21 Daily Xml
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FIVE STAR PRINT

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:42): Women make a wonderful and significant contribution to this state, but the member for Bragg seems to be completely missing the point today. I am advised by the Minister for the Status of Women that, during the contribution made by the member for Bragg, she seemed to be complaining about the increase in the number of positions that women hold on boards and committees. The number has increased 10 per cent since this government took over, and it is now about 43 per cent altogether. I am also reminded about the numbers on the benches opposite, where women have increased their percentage only because many of the Liberals lost their seats at the last election.

However, that is not what I wanted to talk about today. There is a subject pretty close to all our hearts, and that is the printed word. Few people could be unaware or doubt the connection between members of parliament and this, until recently, most favoured form of communication. The federal election campaign will soon end, and with it we will no longer see or be able to look forward to receiving the propaganda, or important information (depending on your interests), with respect to the business of elections, which arrive each week in our letterboxes. Most of us also put out newsletters and calendars. So, it was with a great deal of interest that I attended a recent opening on behalf of the Premier.

I wanted to let the house know and to put on the record how much value the government places on the small business community in this state. I admire business people, and it was a great pleasure to see so many of them and meet Carolyn Cagney, the Managing Director of Five Star Print, which held its grand reopening on the evening of Friday 9 November. Carolyn impressed me in many ways, but most especially because of the emphasis that she placed on the importance of her staff. I also learnt of the humble beginnings of this now major player in Adelaide's printing industry—and I know that this city has many fine printing companies, so the competition is well and truly on.

Five Star Print began in a shed in North Plympton in 1993 with a staff of two, and now has relocated to its refurbished site on Marion Road with 60 staff, including several apprentices. It is a privately owned company and is managed by a sole director, who has not been shy in investing in leading edge and state-of-the-art advanced technology that reduces the impact of printing on the environment. The newest investment is around $7.5 million for renovations to the premises, which have been refurbished with great ingenuity, and the Heidelberg seven colour printer that now stands within it. Carolyn has obviously had a long association with the Heidelberg company, visiting its factory in Germany, the home of printing.

From my time of arrival it was pretty clear that attention to detail is the hallmark of Five Star Print. There was a pretty impressive line-up of entertainment, featuring the Leading Men—four fine tenors from interstate—who sang to the approximately 300 guests and the internationally renowned comedian Peter Rowsthorn, who performed some of his famous stand-up comedy. He then had the pleasure to introduce me, and it was great to share the platform, even for only a few minutes, with Brett of Kath and Kim fame.

The Premier's message was important, as it highlighted some statistics of the Australian printing industry. The paper, printing, publishing and packing industry is the nation's fifth largest manufacturing industry. South Australia has approximately 200 companies in the industry, which generates a total revenue in the vicinity of $800 million. It is also a significant employer, with about 5,000 employees.

South Australia's Strategic Plan promotes innovation and creativity—central to some of the state's potential growth areas, including creative arts, information communication technology and the biosciences. The printing industry's peak body takes a similar interest in encouraging innovative introduction of new technology to enhance competitiveness. South Australia's low unemployment, while a sign of success, places pressure on industries such as the printing industry that seek skilled labour. Printing is fighting a battle with the internet and online publishing and needs to address its role in the growing global environmental calamity.

Five Star has adopted new practices and technologies and is reducing the use of hydrocarbons, chemicals, water and the waste of materials. Solvent-based inks have been replaced by vegetable-based products and formal processes have been established to recycle paper and cardboard, plastics, aluminium, drums and hard rubbish. The company has also made the commitment to plant 13 trees for every tonne of paper it uses—an anti-global warming strategy that I am sure we all hope will catch on across the board.

Carolyn has clearly had the support of her family, friends and staff as she has forged her business plan and expansions. Her commitment and drive are obvious and infectious, no doubt part of her secret to success, and her good relationships with her suppliers were obvious as well.

While I thought I knew a lot about networking and printing, I certainly learnt a few more things while I was there. Printing has moved on from the Gestetner and triple carbon sheet typing I once prided myself on to a new generation of services including digital print, large format printing, banners and multicolour offset printing.

As someone still clinging desperately to my camera with film, I salute the pioneers and leaders of the new age digital world, and I am glad that people such as Carolyn and companies such as Five Star and others are embracing the brave new world and making it a little easier for people like me to take that last step.

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