Media Releases

"The release of a detailed design document on the National Energy Guarantee is welcome progress in finalising an essential reform," Australian Industry Group Chief Executive Innes Willox said today.

Ai Group welcomes the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP-11). This agreement has the potential to transform Australian industry's engagement across the Pacific.

In a NSW pre-budget submission released today, the Australian Industry Group has urged the NSW Government to support improved growth as a basis for industry and community prosperity.

The Australian Industry Group has described today's Queensland State Budget as sound but falling short of being transformative.

The Ai Group Defence Council National Executive has named Ian Irving, CEO of Northrop Grumman Australia, as its new Chair, stepping up from the Deputy Chair position. Mr Irving replaces outgoing Chair, Chris Jenkins, CEO of Thales Australia. While Mr Jenkins is ending his term as Defence Council Chair, he remains Ai Group National President.

The national construction industry recorded a 16^th consecutive month in positive territory in May, with house building expanding strongly as the Australian Industry Group/Housing Industry Association Australian Performance of Construction Index (Australian PCI®) eased slightly by 1.4 points to 54.0 (readings above 50 indicate expansion in activity, with the distance from 50 indicating the strength of the increase).

"Official data has confirmed this year's strong performance for the manufacturing industry. We have already seen this in over 20 months of Ai Group's Australian PMI®, which is an accurate real-time indicator of activity in Australian manufacturing and a 'leading indicator' of these ABS numbers. The solid recovery in manufacturing output is positive news for this big employing sector and it reflects the confidence building across the economy,"  Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox said today.

The Liquefied Natural Gas import terminal that Australian Industrial Energy and its partners propose to locate at Port Kembla is good news at a difficult time for industrial energy users, Australian Industry Group Chief Executive Innes Willox said today.

The Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Services Index (Australian PSI®) rose by 3.8 points to 59.0 in May, extending its run of positive conditions to a 15th month on the back of strong growth in new orders (results above 50 points indicate expansion, with the distance from 50 points indicating the strength of the increase).

"The 3.5 per cent minimum wage increase awarded today by the Fair Work Commission has the potential to be a major disincentive to employment. It is out of step with wage movements across the economy, with inflation, and with the pressures that many businesses are under," Australian Industry Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, said today.