Media Releases July 2019

The Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI®) rose 1.9 points to 51.3 in July, climbing back into expansion after falling into contraction in June for the first time in almost three years (readings below 50 points indicate contraction in activity, with the distance from 50 indicating the strength of the decrease).

Ai Group and the Department of Defence have signed an agreement on industry engagement and negotiation principles.

"The Australian Industry Group calls on the Victorian Government for further action to assist in addressing the state’s worsening waste dilemma confronting local councils and the general community," the Victorian Head of the Australian Industry Group Tim Piper said.

"The Australian Industry Group welcomes the release of the ACCC's Final Report to the Australian Government on its Digital Platforms Inquiry," Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, said today.

"The ACTU assertion that the investment earnings on amounts contributed by employers to Worker Entitlement Funds for the benefit of their employees are a 'surplus' that can be readily distributed to the unions and employer associations that set up the Funds is patently wrong. The ACTU should be condemning this appalling behaviour, not trying to justify it," Australian Industry Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, said today.

"Throughout his outstanding career as a senior public servant, Dr Martin Parkinson has been forthright, thoughtful and far-sighted in his perspective and his advice. Ai Group thanks him for the dedication he has shown to public service in his many roles and his willingness to consult and engage with business. We wish him well for the future," Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox said today.

"The release of the WTO's mid-year Trade Policy Review has confirmed business suspicions that the international trading environment has never been tougher," Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox said today.

"The Australian Industry Group welcomes the decision by the Building Ministers' Forum to take action to coordinate with industry the implementation of the Shergold/Weir report into building industry enforcement and compliance," Ai Group chief executive Innes Willox said today.

New electricity market rules to reward industrial energy users for cutting demand at peak times would be a win for all energy users, Australian Industry Group Chief Executive Innes Willox said today.

"Industry is concerned that the lack of consistent or coordinated action by governments in addressing the current building industry regulatory problems not only threatens many thousands of on-site jobs but also undermines public confidence in the industry as a whole," Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, said today.