Media Releases July 2018

The Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI®) fell 5.4 points to 52.0 in July, indicating continuing but slower growth across the manufacturing sector (readings above 50 indicate expansion in activity, with the distance from 50 indicating the strength of the increase).

In the face of growing world-wide protectionism, the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) is among business representatives from across Asia coming together this week to advocate for trade liberalisation to the negotiators of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) which, when signed, will be the largest trading bloc in the world, covering 30% of global trade.

Ai Group has called for a fresh debate on daylight saving in Queensland after a new survey showed the summer time zone differences were stifling investment and jobs.

Ai Group, together with partner organisations in the Global Business Coalition, has today released a statement calling on the G20 to assume responsibility and reshape the global trading system. The call comes ahead of a meeting in Buenos Aires of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors.

"The Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) congratulates Michele O'Neil on her election to the position of President of the ACTU," Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, said today.

"Industry is concerned about the announcements made today by the Federal Opposition regarding regulation of the labour hire industry. The labour hire industry provides vital flexibility to businesses and to employees, and this flexibility needs to be preserved," Australian Industry Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, said today.

"The ACCC's final report on Electricity supply and prices contains significant and wide-ranging recommendations with many potentially positive implications for energy users and providers," Australian Industry Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, said today.

"The Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) has today released three fact sheets which highlight the shared interests of businesses and their employees in preserving flexibility in workplaces. These fact sheets are part of a package of materials that will be produced and released by Ai Group over the coming months," Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, said today.

Australia's leading construction companies are forecasting a continued solid uplift in major non-residential project work over the course of 2018 and 2019, according to the latest Australian Industry Group/Australian Constructors Association Construction Outlook survey released today.

The Australian Industry Group/Housing Industry Association Australian Performance of Construction Index (Australian PCI®) fell by 3.4 points to 50.6 in June, signaling stable or marginal growth in the national construction industry during the month (readings above 50 indicate expansion in activity, with the distance from 50 indicating the strength of the increase).