Media Releases March 2016

"The announcement to establish the new $230 million Centre for Defence Industry Capability (CDIC) later this year affirms Adelaide as a leading defence industry centre supporting the Australian Defence Force (ADF)," Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox said today.

The Committee is well aware of Ai Group's strong support for the re-establishment of the ABCC and for the Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Bill 2013.

"The Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) has succeeded in preserving the very longstanding position that electrical, mechanical and fabrication tradespersons have equivalent skills and the same minimum award rate should apply to them. Today, a Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission accepted Ai Group's arguments and rejected union claims for a remuneration increase of more than 4.5% for most electricians in the manufacturing and electrical power industries," Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the Australian Industry Group said today.

The national construction industry has remained in contraction for a third month, with the Australian Industry Group/Housing Industry Association Australian Performance of Construction Index (Australian PCI®) slipping in February by 0.2 points to 46.1 (readings below 50 indicate contraction in activity, the distance from 50 indicating the strength of the decrease).

The Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Services Index (Australian PSI®) bounced back into expansion territory after four months in the red, rising 3.4 points in February to 51.8 (readings above 50 points indicate expansion, with the distance from 50 points indicating the strength of the increase).