Media Releases

"Businesses in Victoria have welcomed the new business support package announced by the Federal and State Governments today, as providing assistance at an especially difficult time," Tim Piper, the Victorian Head of the peak employer association Ai Group, said today.

"While the 3.8 per cent increase in the CPI for the year to the end of June 2021 appears high, it is to a large extent due to the reversal of some deflationary forces of a year ago," Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the national employer association Ai Group said today.

"The month-long extension of the Sydney lockdown will deepen and broaden the financial and social impacts being felt by businesses, employees and the broader community including many outside of NSW," Helen Waldron, NSW Head of the peak employer association Ai Group said today.

“The ‘lockdown lite’ restrictions announced by the Victorian State Government today are a start but will do little to alleviate business and community angst,” Tim Piper, the Victorian Head of the peak employer association Ai Group said today.

Business is urging Prime Minister Scott Morrison to reinstate the temporary industrial relations flexibilities in the Fair Work Act when Parliament resumes as a means of supporting employers and employees through the country’s latest as well as future lockdowns.

"For too long we have heard state leaders quote “health advice” for their job and life wrecking decisions on lockdowns. The time has come for that advice to include a proper cost benefit analysis of lockdown decisions, including the impact of COVID lockdowns on general health, mental health, impacted business sectors and the general economy," Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the national employer association Ai Group said today.

"Australia's governments must resist being pressured into ever tougher lockdowns by loudmouth commentators and instead recognise our community and our businesses deserve more considered and proportionate approaches to dealing with COVID,” Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the national employer association Ai Group said today.

"Australia needs to engage with moves towards a European 'carbon tariff' or risk ending up with a noodle bowl of unilateral decisions and systems in multiple countries that would be a nightmare for many Australian exporters," Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the national employer association Ai Group said today.

This morning, at APC Technology, the South Australian Premier Steven Marshall met with and congratulated students who have benefitted from the South Australian Government’s $600,000 investment in the development of higher-level skills and careers pathways into South Australia’s defence industry through the South Australian Premier’s Defence Industry Scholarships Program.

"The Federal Government's decision not to adopt the independent climate legislation proposed by Zali Steggall is a missed opportunity, but not the last opportunity, to establish a clearer path to net zero emissions," Innes Willox Chief Executive of the national employer association Ai Group said today.