Government to end commercial printing business

The Queensland Government will cease the commercial printing operations of Goprint, Housing and Public Works Minister Dr Bruce Flegg announced today.

Dr Flegg said all Departments had to find savings because Labor had left the LNP Government with a $2.8 billion operating deficit and a debt heading towards $100 billion.

“The LNP Government promised to focus on frontline services and lower the cost of living for families and that means making some tough decisions to get the State back on track,” he said.

Dr Flegg said Goprint had experienced significant losses in recent years and needed $3.6 million of additional taxpayers’ money to prop it up in 2010/11.

“The reality is that the printing industry has changed dramatically in the last five years with far less material actually printed in this digital era,” Dr Flegg said.

“GoPrint’s commercial printing operations are just not sustainable in a competitive environment.

“Unfortunately, this decision means that approximately 40 staff at Goprint will be offered redundancies.

“The Government will work with staff and with the unions over this very difficult period to provide any support it can.

“I would like to thank all Goprint employees — both past and present — for their hard work and dedication over the years.”

Dr Flegg said Goprint would continue to provide Reserved Services, such as Bills and Hansards, which require a highly secure work environment.

“It means that the Government Printer which has serviced government for around 150 years will continue in a smaller form,” he said.

Dr Flegg said the Government had also reached decisions that would impact on its commercialised business units, SDS and QFleet.

“The QFleet workshop at Zillmere which provides vehicle maintenance will be closed over the next six to 12 months.

“The workshop currently employs around 49 people.

“Further changes at QFleet to find savings include reducing the fleet size by 10 per cent and extending vehicles leases by a year.

“Unfortunately, up to 20 people in QFleet head office will be offered redundancies as part of these reforms.”

Dr Flegg said the Government would also close the operations of Sales and Distribution Services (SDS), a commercialised business unit that supplies office products, publications and logistical services to government.

“Much like Goprint, SDS, which currently employs 99 staff, has experienced losses in recent years.

“SDS will be wound down over a period of nine months, with current stocks allowed to run down.

“The Government will ensure that SDS still has capacity to provide disaster support services over the coming storm season, as well as make sure there is a process in place to support the provision of supplies for the start of the 2013 school year.

“Some functions of SDS will be transferred to various parts of Government including the Department of Transport and Main Roads and the Department of Education and Training, but job losses will still occur.”

[ENDS] 20 July 2012

Media Contact: Graeme Hallett 0408 763 671