Industry Newsletter

Friday, 4 September 2020

4 September 2020: Post-pandemic policy

Post-Pandemic Policy – Part 2:

Industry Development

Ai Group's Industry Development post-pandemic policy paper puts forward the case for greater, more linked-up and more coherent efforts to lift business capabilities – particularly those of our small and medium-sized enterprises; further facilitation of the accelerated development of high-growth industries and businesses; and the encouragement of business innovation. Read the paper, and listen to our short podcast:

Listen to the podcast

1 September 2020: JobKeeper

JobKeeper extension welcome relief for businesses and employees

The passage through Parliament of the extension of JobKeeper beyond the end of September is a very welcome relief for the many employers whose operations are suffering from sharply reduced sales as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. 

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Watch Innes Willox Sky News interview regarding the VIC extension of emergency powers 

1 September 2020: Border restrictions

Illogical and unnecessary NSW-VIC border barrier should be removed entirely

The NSW Premier's reported 50K expansion of the NSW-VIC border bubble is a positive move that could be realistically extended to all regional Victoria. 

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Rebuilding confidence the key to Victorian recovery plan

Register for our webinar: Identifying the skills you need as the economy recovers

4 September 2020: Skilled migration

Talent taskforce rightly turns focus on recovery

The new, whole-of-government Global Business and Talent Attraction Taskforce is a positive initiative that rightly focuses attention on recovery. Australia was experiencing skills gaps before this crisis hit and our closed borders will only exacerbate this situation. 

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31 August: Federal Budget

Release of Ai Group Federal Budget submission 2020-21

The deferred 2020-21 Federal Budget comes at a critical time, with the economy entering its first recession since the early 1990s and with high levels of uncertainty hanging over its trajectory over coming months. So what recommendations has Ai Group made in its submission to October's Federal Budget?

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2 September: Ai Group Blog

How strong was Australia's economy before COVID-19 struck?

The COVID-19 crisis has had severe impacts on the domestic and global economies. But in our efforts to restore the economy, we need also to attend to the weaknesses that were evident well before the pandemic intervened. 

Read our Blog

1 September: Manufacturing performance

Australian PMI®: Melbourne lockdown slows national manufacturing recovery

Ai Group's Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI®) indicated broadly stable conditions in August, but there was significant divergence between the larger manufacturing states. 

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1 September: Construction performance

Australian PCI®: Melbourne lockdown slows national manufacturing recovery

The latest Australian Performance of Construction Index (Australian PCI®) indicates the pace of decline in business conditions worsened again in August after a pause in July. Builders around the country report being adversely affected by the lockdown in Victoria plus border closures in other states and reduced confidence. 

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2 September: Latest GDP data

Record busting June Quarter fall in GDP

While a tentative recovery may have begun outside of Victoria, this week's revelation of a record-busting 7% June quarter fall in GDP clearly demonstrates that more fiscal stimulus will be needed before recovery is on a secure footing. 

Read our comment

1 September 2020: FWC Award Flexibility Schedule

Award Flexibility Schedule an important initiative for employers & employees

The draft award flexibility schedule released by the Fair Work Commission President is an important initiative that will deliver much needed flexibility to employers & employees during the pandemic and recovery.

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2 September: Ai Group Blog

What are the 25 emerging occupations in Australia?

New research released by the National Skills Commission has identified 25 emerging occupations that have evolved as the way we work changes. 

Read our Blog

2 September: Industry 4.0 Apprenticeships

RMIT offers Industry 4.0 apprenticeships in Victoria

RMIT University is preparing to deliver the Diploma of Applied Technologies, the qualification that sits behind the Industry 4.0 Higher Apprenticeship. 

Find out more

27 August 2020: Supply Chain Capability Improvement Grants

Launching Aussie businesses into the space supply chain

The Australian Space Agency is partnering with NASA on its plan to go back to the Moon and on to Mars. As part of this, it is investing $150 million to fuel the growth of Australian businesses so they can succeed in national and international space supply chains, and support NASA on its campaign.

Australia’s Moon to Mars initiative will support the transformation of industries across the economy. It will accelerate the growth of the space sector by providing opportunities to enter new supply chains, increasing demand for new capabilities, creating inspiration and enabling spin-out technologies for economic growth.

The first part of the Supply Chain program, the Supply Chain Capability Improvement Grants, has just opened. Total funding of $25.7 million is available between 2020-25, with a minimum grant of $250,000 and maximum grant of $1 million.

The second part, supply chain engagement and facilitation, will support larger local space companies and international space industry partners to open up space supply chains to Australian businesses and research organisations to support NASA’s Moon to Mars activities. This is currently being scoped and expected to commence in mid-2021.

Click here for further details and to find out how to apply

aigroup.com.au