Media Releases August 2020

"The welcome discussion within the NSW Government of a relaxation of the border restrictions between NSW and Victoria should result in a removal of this barrier that is damaging the community, businesses and employees," Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the national employer association Ai Group said today.

"The ban on Australians travelling overseas may have made sense as an early emergency measure but it is today a barrier to business that can be easily and safely removed," Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the national employer association AiGroup, said today.

"Today, the High Court of Australia granted the appeals by Mondelēz International and the Australian Government against the problematic decision of the Federal Court in the Mondelez v AMWU case. The High Court has clarified the quantum of personal/carer's leave entitlements for millions of Australian employees," Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the national employer association, Ai Group, said today.

Opening Statement: Parliamentary Inquiry into the Criminal Code and Other Legislation (Wage Theft) Amendment Bill 2020

by Stephen Smith, The Head Of National Workplace Relations for the national employer association Ai Group

"The Federal Government's broadening of eligibility for JobKeeper to a larger range of employers and to more employees, is a welcome, sensible and timely response to the repercussions flowing from Australia’s second COVID-19 wave," Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the national employer association Ai Group, said today.

The Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Business Index (Australian PBI) lifted by 11.1 points to 44.7 in July, pointing to a further contraction in activity in response to the COVID-19 pandemic but at a slower pace than in recent months (results below 50 points in the Australian PBI indicate deteriorating business conditions, with lower numbers indicating a faster pace of deterioration in the month).

The Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Services Index (Australian PSI®) rose by 12.5 points to 44.0 points in July 2020 (seasonally adjusted) indicating another contraction in activity in July but at a slower pace than in June. This slower rate of contraction follows three months of exceptionally low results in the Australian PSI®, including a record low in April (results below 50 points indicate contraction, with lower numbers indicating a stronger pace of decline).

"The new Federal Treasury estimates of the extent of the expected toll on the national economy of the Victorian lockdown reinforces the deep concerns that businesses have about their ability to continue to provide employment for hundreds of thousands of people and in some cases about the survival of their businesses," Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the national employer association Ai Group, said today.

The Australian Industry Group/Housing Industry Association Australian Performance of Construction Index (Australian PCI®) rose by a further 7.2 points to 42.7 points in July. This indicates business conditions remained negative across the construction industry in July, but the pace of contraction eased from the recent record lows. July’s survey was conducted before the latest restrictions in Victoria. Results below 50 points indicate contraction with lower results indicating a faster rate of contraction.