Media Releases November 2020

The Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI®) declined by 4.2 points to 52.1 in November, indicating expanding conditions but at a slower rate than in October (readings above 50 points indicate expansion in activity, with higher results indicating a faster rate of expansion).

"The lower than expected number of businesses eligible for JobKeeper since the end of September is an encouraging sign of an economy picking up more firmly than was previously anticipated. This is in line with the more optimistic outlook from the Reserve Bank and the strong gains in employment recorded in October," Innes Willox, Chief Executive of Ai Group the national employer association, said today.

"Today's decision by the High Court to grant special leave to WorkPac to appeal the controversial decision of the Federal Court in the WorkPac v Rossato case is very welcome. The Federal Court's decision has alarmed businesses and is no doubt operating as barrier to employers taking on casual staff. With more than half a million casual jobs lost since March, any barrier to casuals being re-employed is not in the interests of employees or employers," Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the national employer association Ai Group, said today.

Apprenticeships and traineeships are a central component in how Australia develops and maintains a skilled workforce and part of the skills equation that is key to our COVID economic recovery.

"The Victorian Government's investments in housing and infrastructure and its support for job creation and skills development are positive and important measures that will support the recovery in the State's economy into next year and beyond," Tim Piper, the Victorian Head of the national employer association Ai Group, said today.

"It is clear from an Ai Group Discussion Paper released today that significant issues associated with our ports persist which could undermine our resilience, competitiveness and COVID recovery, should we fail to address them," Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the national employer association Ai Group said today.

"The proposal announced today by the Victorian Government to give casuals sick leave and carer's leave is deeply flawed," Innes Willox Chief Executive of the national employer association Ai Group, said today.

"The Australian Industry Group in Victoria (Ai Group) has welcomed today's easing of restrictions on both businesses and the community in the State," Tim Piper, the Victorian Head of Ai Group said today.

"The end of the South Australian lockdown brings to a conclusion an enormous amount of dislocation, disruption and cost to industry in South Australia," Stephen Myatt, SA Head of the national employer association Ai Group, said today.

"The decision to close down South Australia today with no reasonable notice will cause huge disruption to the State's industry," Stephen Myatt, SA Head of the national employer association Ai Group said today.