Media Releases September 2019

The Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI®) improved by 1.6 points to 54.7 in September, indicating faster growth across the manufacturing sector (readings above 50 points indicate contraction in activity, with the distance from 50 indicating the strength of the increase).

Rebecca Andrews has taken up the position of Queensland State Head for the Australian Industry Group.

"The Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) welcomes the release today of the first two in a series of Australian Government industrial relations discussion papers. The model of using discussion papers to ventilate areas of potential industrial relations reform is a positive way to stimulate considered debate and discussion on areas of significant concern in Australian workplaces," Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, said today.

"The so-called 'big stick' measures introduced into the Parliament today unfortunately have the potential to put at risk not only much-needed investment in the energy sector, but also the jobs and wages of ordinary Australians," Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, said today.

"The Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) welcomes today's announcement by Mondelēz International that it will apply to the High Court for special leave to appeal the split decision of the Full Federal Court in the Mondelez v AMWU case. The case relates to the meaning of the expression '10 days of paid personal/carer's leave' in section 96 of the Fair Work Act and has major implications for businesses that have employees who work more than 7.6 hours per day, flexible hours or on a part-time basis," Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, said today.

"It is vital that the Senate opposes Labor's disallowance motion for the Fair Work Amendment (Casual Loading Offset) Regulation 2018," Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, said today.

The Australian Industry Group/Housing Industry Association Australian Performance of Construction Index (Australian PCI®) climbed 5.5 points to 44.6 in August, indicating an easing in the construction industry's overall rate of decline (readings below 50 indicate contraction in activity, with the distance from 50 indicating the strength of the decrease).

"Ai Group welcomes today's launch of the Manufacturing Modernisation Fund by the Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Karen Andrews. It is an initiative that will encourage and promote innovation in Australian manufacturing," Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, said today.

"The weak GDP data out today reconfirms that while our economy is slowing due to local and global factors, it is still expanding, and with growth stronger in the second half of 2018-19 than in the previous six months, there are signs we may have passed the trough," Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox said today.

An alliance of industry associations from eight countries has today issued a joint statement encouraging the UK Government to pursue a deal with the European Union before its scheduled exit on 31 October. Ai Group is the Australian representative on the business group alliance which is concerned about the negative economic and social consequences of a no-deal Brexit.