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Australian business and union leaders will meet today to discuss how major challenges identified by the manufacturing sector in the wake of the federal government’s Modern Manufacturing Strategy can be overcome. The Senior Industry Leaders Roundtable Event, organised by national skills standards developer the IBSA Group, is the last in a series of seven online-based … Continue reading Australian business, union leaders to tackle sovereign manufacturing supply chain risks →

In the first half of 2020, Australia suffered our first recession in over 30 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Recovery commenced in Q3, but the economic fallout from this event for Australian business will continue well into 2021 and beyond. According to an Ai Group report released at the end of last year – Business … Continue reading COVID-19: A shock for business and it’s far from over →

The government’s response to the pandemic has highlighted the central role of manufacturing in recovering from this event and its importance in bolstering Australia’s economic resilience. What are the long-term trends in manufacturing and the impact of COVID-19 on the industry? Manufacturing employment: long-term trends in Australia Australian manufacturing employment peaked at 1.46 million in … Continue reading Manufacturing jobs in Australia: long-term trends and the impact of COVID-19 →

The Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI) has remained in growth territory for November at 52.1 points. Four of the six manufacturing sectors in the PMI showed expansion. Growth was strongest in the diverse textiles, clothing, footwear, paper and printing group (increased by 17.3 points to 71.6), the machinery and equipment … Continue reading Australian PMI remains positive for November →

The Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI) has expanded for the first time since July, increasing by 9.6 points to 56.3 in October. Solid growth in Australian manufacturing saw production, employment, sales and exports moving into positive territory. Readings above 50 points indicate expansion in activity, with higher results indicating a … Continue reading Australian manufacturing PMI surges in October →

National employer association Ai Group has welcomed easing of Victoria’s COVID-19 restrictions on metropolitan Melbourne. Victorian Head of the Ai Group, Tim Piper, said the move will allow businesses to serve the public and restart the state’s manufacturing. “Ai Group welcomes the easing of restrictions to allow retailers, restaurants, cafes, manufacturers, the construction industry and … Continue reading Ai Group welcomes easing of COVID-19 restrictions in Victoria →

The domestic and international effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have had impacts on energy prices and emissions that look positive at first glance – a pre-existing decline in wholesale electricity prices has steepened; a global oil price crash and weak East Asian gas demand have pushed spot gas prices far down; and early signs are … Continue reading Reinvigorating Australia’s national climate policy →

Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Karen Andrews, will open the conference with a virtual keynote address on Tuesday, 20 October at 11am, to outline the government’s Modern Manufacturing Strategy announced as part of the 2020-21 Budget. The strategy will see the government invest $1.5 billion in initiatives and projects that help Australian manufacturers to scale … Continue reading Minister Andrews to open Industry 4.0 Advanced Manufacturing Forum →

Australia’s manufacturing renaissance represents the ideal opportunity to modernise the skills and qualifications for the sector, national workforce planners have said in response to plans to revitalise Australian industry detailed in last night’s Budget. National skills developers IBSA Manufacturing, who engage with industry and the training sector to develop skills standards and qualifications, has welcomed … Continue reading Manufacturing industry set to leverage Budget spend to create jobs of the future →

Whenever there are calls for governments to divert our fragmented industry policy efforts and to concentrate their attention on “what we are really good at”, alarm bells should ring. It is true that governments have important roles to play in fostering the development of Australian industries. It is also true that our industry policies are … Continue reading Growing manufacturing: what role for industry policy? →

The Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI) rose by 2.0 points to 53.5 in July, the first time since October 2019 that a positive result was recorded for two consecutive months. The expansion was driven by the machinery and equipment sectors (up 3.2 points to 54.3) and the food and beverage … Continue reading Australian PMI records first two-month positive streak since 2019 →

A new Diploma of Applied Technologies will help train the skilled workers NSW needs to continue building its advanced manufacturing economy. Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said it was critical for businesses to embrace technology to stay ahead of the curve. “Our manufacturing industry in NSW is undergoing a transformation … Continue reading New advanced manufacturing diploma launches in NSW →

The Energy Efficiency Council and Australian Industry Group have welcomed a new report Pivot – Rebound – Transform that sets out a practical plan for rapidly transforming Australia’s energy and carbon management market. The report highlights the crucial role of a vibrant energy and emissions management sector that supports Australian industry to build a new energy … Continue reading New roadmap supports emissions reduction journey for Australian industry →

The Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI) recovered by 5.8 points to 41.6 in May, after experiencing the largest single-month drop in the index’s history in April (readings below 50 points indicate contraction in activity, with lower results indicating a faster rate of contraction). The manufacturing industry remained in deep contraction … Continue reading Australian PMI: Manufacturing contraction eases in May →

Ai Group chief executive Innes Willox has welcomed the federal government’s call for a greater emphasis on manufacturing to reboot the Australian economy. Willox said manufacturing had gained unprecedented public and political attention in recent weeks. He believes the shortage of vital equipment has raised an important debate about Australia’s management of global supply chains. … Continue reading Ai Group welcomes federal government call for more manufacturing →

The Ai Group Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) has jumped 9.4 points to 53.7 after four months of contraction, led by shopper demand for food, personal care and other essential household goods. Local businesses that manufacture items such as processed food, toilet paper, cleaning products were recognised as key contributors to the overall improvement in … Continue reading Food stockpiling sees April PMI surge →

The Australian Workers Union (AWU) and Ai Group have united to call for continued domestic manufacturing to support households, business, community organisations and health providers. In a joint statement, Ai Group CEO Innes Willox and AWU national secretary Daniel Walton said it was “crucial” that businesses, particularly in the food processing, packaging, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and … Continue reading Industry calls for continued manufacturing during COVID-19 →

National employment association Ai Group has welcomed the federal government’s latest stimulus package to boost job prospects for Australians affected by the coronavirus. The announcement comes as a relieve for manufacturers and is expected to alleviate concerns for businesses during the next six months. The funding will provide $130 billion in wage support for six … Continue reading Ai Group welcomes federal government wage subsidy →

National employer association Ai Group has called on Australian governments to consider wage support mechanisms in response to escalating impacts of the coronavirus. Ai Group CEO Innes Willox said Australia should investigate new methods to mitigate further economic losses. “To cushion the broader impacts of the virus, a common goal in Australia and other countries … Continue reading Wage support worth considering, Ai Group says →

The Ai Group has urged governments to help reduce cross-border chaos for businesses involved in the movement of goods. Ai Group CEO Innes Willox told Radio National is it “essential” for governments to act to prevent the economy from quick “atrophy”. “We have to have continuity around what is happening at our state borders to … Continue reading Movement of goods across borders must flow, Ai Group says →