Media Releases August 2020

"The draft award flexibility schedule that has been released by the President of the Fair Work Commission, Justice Iain Ross, is an important initiative that will deliver much needed flexibility to employers and employees during the pandemic and the recovery.  A very large number of employees are currently working from home, and it is evident that workplaces will never be the same again," Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the national employer association Ai Group, said today.

The Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI®) fell by 4.2 points to 49.3 in August, indicating broadly stable conditions (readings above 50 points indicate expansion in activity, with higher results indicating a faster rate of expansion).

"The announcement by the Victorian Government of consultations with business on a recovery plan is an opportunity for the State to focus on strategies to restore confidence in the State economy," Tim Piper, the Victorian head of the employer association Ai Group said today.

"The deferred 2020-21 Federal Budget comes at a critical time with the economy entering its first recession since the early 1990s and with high levels of uncertainty hanging over its trajectory over coming months," Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the national employer association Ai Group, said today.

The Australian Climate Roundtable (ACR) is a forum that brings together leading organisations from the business, farming, investment, union, social welfare and environmental sectors. Since 2014 we have sought and found common ground on responding to the challenge of climate change.

Ai Group has developed a set of Post Pandemic Policy Papers with recommendations across many fundamental areas of public policy designed to help our states, territories, regions and communities to recover, rebuild and reposition for a stronger and better economy and society over the long term.

The Chief Executive of the national employer association Ai Group, Innes Willox, has today written to crossbench Senators urging them to oppose the disallowance motion which would stop litigation funders being regulated in the same way as any other businesses which offer financial services.

"We welcome the Government's announcement today of a $1 billion investment package of Defence initiatives to boost Australia's defence industry in its recovery from COVID-19. This announcement is an important recognition that the defence industry is a strategic asset for the country that will help us meet the challenges set out in the 2020 Defence Strategic Update," Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the national employer association, Ai Group, said today.

"The Opposition's proposed motion to disallow the regulations which require litigation funders to hold an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) from 22 August, for new class actions, is not in the interests of Australian businesses, plaintiffs or the community. The obligations on holders on an AFSL are reasonable and appropriate. Litigation funders should be regulated like any other business which offers financial services," Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the national employer association, Ai Group, said today.

"Industry welcomes the introduction into Parliament today of a Bill to extend the operation of the JobKeeper scheme and the short-term flexibility measures in the Fair Work Act, until late-March. The JobKeeper scheme is playing a vital role in saving thousands of businesses and millions of jobs. The short-term provisions in the Fair Work Act are playing an important complementary role in allowing businesses to adjust the working hours, work locations and work duties of their employees, in order to save as many jobs as possible," Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the national employer association, Ai Group, said today.