Printing and Publishing Services Victoria (previously known as Victorian Government Printing Office)

Full description

Function

This agency has been responsible for the provision of printing and publishing services to the Victorian Public Service and the Victorian Parliament. The function incorporates the production of items such as legislation, the Government Gazette, Victorian Public Service Notices, Hansard, annual reports and assorted Government forms and publications. It had also been responsible for the administration of Government Advertising.

Between Federation and 1929, the Victorian Government Printing Office (VGPO) was also responsible for the provision of printing services to the Commonwealth public service and Parliament.

This agency was formed by Superintendent La Trobe in 1851. Documents prior to this date were produced by commercial printers loosely designated as Government Printers. Control for activities shortly passed to the Auditor General on 13 September 1851 and thence to the Treasury in 1858. Responsibility passed to VA 430 Department of Property and Services in 1978 and then VA 3007 Department of the Treasury during 1991.

Restructure 1990/1991

Following deregulation of Government printing circa September 1990 (meaning that Government agencies could choose not to use the VGPO), VGPO instituted a review of operations which concluded that the agency should attempt to become commercially viable.

As a result, activities were segmented into four core specialised businesses and a central management group. All remaining activities were either closed or divested.

The name of the organisation was changed to Printing and Publishing Services Victoria (PPSV) coincidental with an administrative move to the Department of the Treasury in February 1992.

The four core business units were:

The Law Printer: Established in June 1990 as the publisher of all Parliamentary items. This work is regarded as the core VGPO work and was the only activity not deregulated.

Corporate Image: launched May 1990 which specialises in the provision of `corporate identity' stationery such as letterheads, business cards and newsletters.

Creative Solutions: conceived as a print brokage and publishing consultancy business and launched in August 1990.

Corporate Image and Creative Solutions currently occupy the same premises. Both have been jointly managed within PPSV since Oct 1991 as Commercial Businesses Group.

Fast Copy: launched around November 1990 as an instant printing and photocopying business.

Fast Copy also acts as a funnel for work of Corporate Image and vice versa.


Location of Records

See below and section 3.18.8 of the List of Holdings 2nd Edition 1985 for records of Printing and Publishing Services, Victoria.