NSW: Hannanprint to close Dubbo plant - 200 jobs lost

AAP General News (Australia)
12-04-2001
NSW: Hannanprint to close Dubbo plant - 200 jobs lost

SYDNEY, Dec 4 AAP - A major printing business in the NSW town of Dubbo will be shut
next week and 200 workers will lose their jobs.

Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) printing secretary Amanda Perkins said
Hannanprint announced today it would shut its Dubbo plant on December 14.

Ms Perkins said the announcement was a tragedy for Dubbo.

"It's a terrible situation - there's 200 workers in a small regional town now out
of work," she said.

Ms Perkins said the union had negotiated a decent redundancy package for workers, and
there was no concern about entitlements.

However, she said the economic loss to Dubbo would be severe.

"Hannanprint was the second largest employer in Dubbo and now it's going to shut," she said.

"It's an absolute tragedy.

NSW parliament last week heard the company was forced to close its Dubbo operation
because two magazines, including top-selling weekly Woman's Day and Fairfax's Sunday Life,
changed format.

State Regional Development Minister Harry Woods said the company blamed the loss of
the printing contracts for its plight.

Mr Woods said the company had been made aware of options for government assistance.

However the company today announced it would push ahead with the closure.

Mr Woods had said the government would work closely with the company to ensure the
business future of Dubbo.

"In the event that Hannanprint makes a commercial decision in relation to its Dubbo
plant, the government ... will work closely with the company and other stakeholders to
attract replacement business to the site," he said.

Comment was being sought from Hannanprint.

AAP nd/jjs/apm/bwl

KEYWORD: HANNANPRINT

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