Media Releases March 2021

"The reopening of Queensland is welcome Easter news for business and the community but the ramifications from the uncertainty created by the lockdown will be far-reaching," Rebecca Andrews Queensland Head of the national employer association Ai Group said today.

The Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI®) increased by a further 1.1 points to 59.9 in March, indicating a sixth consecutive month of strong recovery and the index's highest monthly result since March 2018 (readings above 50 points indicate expansion in activity, with higher results indicating a faster rate of expansion).

"Ai Group welcomes today's release of the Defence National Manufacturing Priority road map. The road map will make Australia more resilient and better equipped to respond to rising geopolitical tensions and uncertainty," Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the national employer association Ai Group, said today.

"The Victorian Government's decision to reject a Liquefied Natural Gas import terminal at Crib Point raises serious questions about how the needs of Victoria's gas users will be met in the years ahead," said Innes Willox, Chief Executive of national employer association Ai Group today.

"Ai Group welcomes the attention the Federal Opposition is giving to the manufacturing industry and its important role in the Australian economy. Manufacturing businesses employ close to one million Australians," Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the national employer association Ai Group said today.

"While some Ai Group members are hopeful the three-day snap Brisbane lockdown will be enough to get on top of the spread of the current cases, others look to a possible extension of the lock-down with great trepidation," Rebecca Andrews, Queensland Head of the national employer association Ai Group said today.

"Ai Group welcomes today's release of the Food & Beverage National Manufacturing Priority road map. The strategies and direction in the road map will help to secure Australia's food security – from farm to factory to table," Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the national employer association Ai Group, said today.

"While bringing JobKeeper to an end makes sense in the context of the ongoing recovery in the broader economy, the risks that arise from its withdrawal should be carefully managed to help create a soft landing," Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the national employer organisation Ai Group, said today.

"The ACTU's 3.5% claim in this year's Annual Wage Review is reckless and incompatible with the current economic vulnerabilities and would put jobs at risk and worsen unemployment and underemployment," Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the national employer association Ai Group said today.

"The Australian Industry Group's submission in the Annual Wage Review will argue that the Fair Work Commission (FWC) needs to take a particularly cautious approach in this year's Annual Wage Review given the economic and business risks associated with the end of JobKeeper on 28 March," Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the national employer association Ai Group said today.