Media Releases February 2016

The Australian manufacturing sector expanded for an eighth straight month in February, with the Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI®) rising by 2.0 points to 53.5 - its highest level since July 2010 (readings above 50 indicate expansion in activity, the distance from 50 indicating the strength of the increase).

"The Defence White Paper offers Australia's defence industry a higher degree of certainty that it will be called on to deliver over the next decade and beyond the advanced equipment, systems and support required by the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to meet its many operational challenges," Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, said today.

"The Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) has filed its submissions and evidence in the Fair Work Commission's Casual and Part-time Employment Case. The evidence includes two major surveys of employers and employees which demonstrate that the unions' claims, if granted, would be devastating for employers, employees and the community. The unions' campaign to demonise casual employment is based on the myth that the level of casual employment is increasing, when in fact the ABS statistics show that it has remained at the same level for the past 18 years (19-20% of the workforce)," Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the Australian Industry Group said today.

"The Australian Industry Group congratulates both the Government and the Opposition on finalising an agreement regarding the Lease of the Port of Melbourne," Ai Group Victoria Branch Head, Tim Piper, said today

"The 'sham contracting' proposals contained in the Exposure Draft released today by the Federal Opposition need more thought, as they would potentially cause widespread problems for companies and independent contractors. While the announced consultation process is welcome, industry can see some significant problems with the proposals," Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the Australian Industry Group said today.

"The announcement of the Queensland Advanced Manufacturing 10-Year Roadmap, as a pillar of the state's future, is an important milestone in the journey to assist the state to grow a diversified and innovative economy," Ai Group's Acting Queensland State Director, Alex Stanojevic, said today.

"Ai Group welcomes the commitment made by Building Ministers to address non-conforming building products. The increasing incidence of non-conforming product in the market place - including recent reports of up to 64 building sites with asbestos-tainted concrete fibre sheeting - show that the problem is only worsening," Australian Industry Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox said today.

"While recognising the critical importance of forging a clear path to budgetary sustainability over the medium-term, the Australian Industry Group's Budget Submission released today cautions against excessive spending cuts or aggregate tax increases in 2016-17. While business conditions have improved somewhat over the past six or so months, they remain disproportionately exposed to downside risks including the risk of a loss of domestic confidence and demand if fiscal policy is tightened excessively. Indeed, given the still-sluggish state of business investment, there is a strong case for targeted tax measures to boost business investment," Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, said today.

“The Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) welcomes the announcement by the Industry, Innovation and Science Minister of an inquiry into the dumping of imported metal in the Australian market; the effectiveness of existing arrangements; and possible modifications to these arrangements.  It is important that we have arrangements in place that ensure the competitiveness of Australian industry and that we maintain level playing fields for businesses throughout our metal industry supply chains,” Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, said today.

"The Australian Industry Group welcomes the Victorian Government's announcement today that an expert panel has been appointed to review and strengthen occupational health and safety (OHS) standards across the State," Australian Industry Group Victorian Director, Tim Piper, said today.