Media Releases April 2019

The Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI®) rose by 3.8 points to 54.8 in April, indicating faster growth across the manufacturing sector as sales, supplier deliveries and new orders all bounced back into positive territory (readings above 50 points indicate expansion in activity, with the distance from 50 indicating the strength of the increase).

"The announcement that the Federal Election will be held on May 18 is an opportunity for all sides of politics to reboot the policy agenda and assert national leadership to promote investment, job creation, broader community prosperity and social cohesion," Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, said today.

Victorian industry has welcomed the State Government's commitment to upgrading programs and use of technology in tracking hazardous waste in the State.

"Australia's accession to the WTO Government Procurement Agreement will provide Australian exporters with greater transparency in the opportunities that lie in what is a $1.7 trillion market," Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, said today.

Ahead of the coming Federal Election Ai Group is releasing a series of policy papers on issues of importance to business and the community. This policy statement addresses the skills, education and training priorities which we urge all parties to support.

The Waste Industry Alliance in Victoria has called on the State Government to make it mandatory for all hazardous waste in Victoria to be sent to licensed facilities capable of treating the waste. This should be the only option and excessive stockpiling of hazardous waste must stop immediately.

"Ai Group welcomes the ALP’s Plan for Skills, TAFE and Apprentices. This plan squarely focusses on strengthening the skills and training system, with a special emphasis on apprenticeships," Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, said today.

The Australian Industry Group/Housing Industry Association Australian Performance of Construction Index (Australian PCI®) increased by 1.8 points to 45.6 in March, indicating a slight easing in the construction industry’s aggregate rate of contraction (readings below 50 indicate contraction in activity, with the distance from 50 indicating the strength of the decrease).

"We urge all political parties to resist the temptation to rush new social media legislation through the Parliament without proper consideration,” Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, said today.

"Right-minded people are understandably outraged at the ongoing raids on workers' entitlement funds by unions. Employers contribute to construction and electrical contracting industry redundancy funds for the benefit of their employees, not for the benefit of unions. It is a disgrace that millions of dollars are being withdrawn from these funds by unions. The ACTU complains about so-called 'wage theft', how is this not also 'wage theft' by the unions?," Australian Industry Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, said today.