Media Releases

With Australia’s already-decelerating economy savaged by bushfires, the Government should act right now to get private sector investment moving to stimulate the broader economy, reignite jobs growth and lift flat-lining productivity.   

Ai Group has today released a landmark study into mental health initiatives taken in local workplaces. The report looks at the nature of the initiatives, factors behind their success, the barriers they encounter along the way, and the results they generate.

"The State Government should be commended on its recent decision to waive the waste levy to help aid the recovery and rebuilding of local communities impacted by the bushfires," Waste Industry Alliance Head, Tim Piper, said today.

The Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Services Index (Australian PSI®) fell by 5.0 points to 48.7 in December, marking a first month of decline for Australia's services industries following four months of positive conditions (results above 50 points indicate expansion, with the distance from 50 points indicating the strength of the increase).

The Australian Industry Group/Housing Industry Association Australian Performance of Construction Index (Australian PCI®) fell 1.1 points to 38.9 in December, with deteriorating indices for activity, new orders and supplier deliveries contributing to the lowest Australian PCI® result in six and a half years (readings below 50 indicate contraction in activity, with the distance from 50 indicating the strength of the decrease).

The Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI®) increased slightly by 0.2 points to 48.3 in December, marking two consecutive months of contraction in the Australian PMI® for the first time since mid-2015 (readings below 50 points indicate contraction in activity, with the distance from 50 indicating the strength of the contraction).

"Businesses of course have a duty to protect the health and safety of their employees. However, the ACTU's call for WHS regulations and codes about excessive heat and air particles need to go through the established WHS consultation channels," Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, said today.

Six leading organisations representing Victorian workers, business, investors, community and the environment have joined forces for the first time to call for decisive and responsible Victorian Government action on climate change.

"In the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) released today the Government has taken into account the easing of growth that set in during the second half of 2018 which is proving difficult to shrug off. The revisions to the estimates of output growth, employment, household consumption, incomes and investment have seen a considerable reduction in the fiscal position over the forward estimates," Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, said today.

"Ai Group is encouraged by the Federal Government's decision to consult further following the release of the Government response to the ACCC's final report on the Digital Platforms Inquiry," Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, said today.