Media Releases February 2016

Statement by Stephen Smith, Australian Industry Group Head of National Workplace Relations Policy: Ai Group welcomes the opportunity to participate in this inquiry into the worthwhile concept of a National Long Service Leave Standard and the nonsensical idea of extending portable long service leave entitlements beyond the few industries where these schemes operate.

The national construction industry has remained in contraction for a second month, with the Australian Industry Group/Housing Industry Association Australian Performance of Construction Index (Australian PCI®) slipping marginally in January by 0.5 points to 46.3 (readings below 50 indicate contraction in activity, the distance from 50 indicating the strength of the decrease).

"The reference of the ABCC Bill to yet another Senate Committee inquiry is a gross waste of public and industry resources," Australian Industry Group Chief Executive Innes Willox said today.

The Australian manufacturing sector expanded for a seventh straight month in January, with the Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI®) declining marginally by 0.4 points to 51.5 to remain above the 50-point level separating expansion from contraction. This result continued the longest run of expansionary readings since 2010.

"The signing of the TPP is a welcome milestone in the implementation of this historic agreement," Australian Industry Group Chief Executive Innes Willox said today.

"Today a Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission (FWC) overturned a decision of Commissioner Saunders who had held that enterprise bargaining negotiations must take place on a face-to-face basis, rather than via video or teleconference. The Full Bench decision is very important and will become more important over the years ahead as technology continues to develop," Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the Australian Industry Group said today.

The Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Services Index (Australian PSI®) has started 2016 with a fourth consecutive month of contraction, rising 2.1 points in January to 48.4 (readings below 50 points indicate contraction, with the distance from 50 points indicating the strength of the contraction).

“It is patently obvious that it is in the community’s interests for the Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Billto be passed by Parliament and all Senators need to support it,” Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the Australian Industry Group, said today.