Media Releases October 2016

The Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI®) increased by 1.1 points to 50.9 in October, signaling a very mild expansion across the manufacturing sector (readings above 50 indicate expansion in activity, with the distance from 50 indicating the strength of the increase).

"The Report of the Victorian Inquiry into the Labour Hire Industry and Insecure Work, as released today, raises some valid issues but not all of the recommendations have merit. It is essential that in dealing with a very small minority of disreputable labour hire operators, an undue regulatory burden is not imposed on the vast majority of labour hire companies and their clients," Tim Piper, Head of the Victorian Branch of the Australian Industry Group, said today. 

"The silly season looks to have arrived early in the Northern Territory with the Government's moves to create two new part day public holidays over Christmas and New Year," Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the Australian Industry Group, said today.

One of the country's biggest employer organisations, the Australian Industry Group, is ramping up its WA presence with the appointment of a new WA State Manager.

The Victorian Government's Water Plan lays out a comprehensive and broadly sensible agenda for the coming decades – but the interests of water users need to be kept at the front of mind as it is implemented, Australian Industry Group Victorian Head Tim Piper said today.

"It is essential that the ABCC Bill is passed without delay in order to deliver vital reforms to the building and construction industry and to reduce the costs that are ultimately borne by the entire community. Without its passage the unlawful and inappropriate conduct being constantly and widely displayed by construction unions will continue unabated," Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, said today.

"The Australian Industry Group welcomes the passage through Parliament of the Fair Work Amendment (Respect for Emergency Services Volunteers) Bill 2016. There is a legitimate public interest in prohibiting enterprise agreements from containing provisions which would prevent volunteer emergency services bodies managing their volunteer operations safely, productively and efficiently," Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the Australian Industry Group, said today.

"Ai Group has today launched its new Graduate Employment Service in Canberra which aims to tackle the catch-22 dilemma where graduates can’t find a suitable job without experience and employers can’t find job-ready graduates with experience," Australian Industry Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox said.

"The official closure of Ford's facilities in Broadmeadows and Geelong is an occasion to register sadness at the passing of an era; determination to facilitate the transition to productive futures of businesses and employees all along the associated supply chains; and also optimism about the prospect of Australia building a strong and sustainable presence in higher-value segments of global automotive supply chains," Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, said today.

The national construction industry returned to a mild expansion in September, with the Australian Industry Group/Housing Industry Association Australian Performance of Construction Index (Australian PCI®) lifting by 4.8 points to 51.4 (readings above 50 indicate expansion in activity, with the distance from 50 indicating the strength of the increase).