Innes Willox

By Innes Willox, Ai Group Chief Executive When the COVID-pandemic struck a little over a year ago apprenticeship commencements fell through the floor and young trainees were among the first to have their jobs cut or training cancelled. Ai Group advocated hard for a program to support apprentices and the federal government responded with the … Continue reading New national cadetship program needed to help businesses rise from COVID-19 →

The Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI) increased by 3.5 points to 58.8 in February 2021. It is 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 CEO, Innes Willox, said Australia’s manufacturers … Continue reading Australian PMI recovery strengthens in February 2021 →

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 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 →

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 →

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) 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). There was significant divergence between the larger manufacturing states, with Victoria’s PMI falling back into … Continue reading Stable conditions despite overall contraction in PMI →

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 →

The Australian PMI moved back into the black in June, increasing by 9.9 points to 51.5 (readings above 50 points indicate expansion in activity, with higher results indicating a faster rate of expansion), according to the AiGroup. The June result comes in the wake of April’s largest ever monthly fall in the Australian PMI. However, … Continue reading Manufacturing goes positive again for June →

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 →

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 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 →

Goods and services for food production and hygiene are no less important than the industries that support and distribute them, and it is “vital” that they are able to operate, Ai Group CEO Innes Willox said. A clear and consistent definition of essential services for manufacturers is needed as the country prepares for lockdown. “As … Continue reading Essential services “vital” for manufacturers →

Retail sales are expected to boost for machine and equipment manufacturers under the federal government’s $1.3 billion stimulus package, Ai Group CEO Innes Willox said. The extension of instant asset write-off provisions and temporary measures to accelerate depreciation deduction on new investments for SMEs are particularly welcome by the Ai Group. “Both these measures will … Continue reading Manufacturers to benefit from government stimulus packages →

The Ai Group has issued a statement suggesting a review of the Australian Industry Capability (AIC) program, in light of Naval Group’s announcement that it was investigating Australian industry capabilities for the manufacture of the Attack Class submarine fleet. Ai Group’s chief executive, Innes Willox, on Friday said that “while the foundations are sound, the AIC … Continue reading Ai Group issues statement on local shipbuilding capacity →

The performance of the Australian manufacturing sector improved slightly in December, but remained in negative territory. December was the second month in a row of contraction in the Australian manufacturing sector, with the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) recording a figure of 48.3 points. This marks the first time since … Continue reading December PMI shows impact of economy on manufacturing →