Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has rejected the highly interventionist “Build Back Better” policies embraced by fellow developed countries in an election pitch to the business community. The prime minister also called for a reconfiguration of supply chains to “just in case” models while outlining seven critical areas, including semiconductors, needing attention. In a speech…

The Australian Industry Group (Ai Group), the peak group representing national employers, has revealed that business leaders are cautiously hopeful for 2022 despite the seriousness of the anticipated disruptions. The report for Australian CEOs expectations was based on a survey conducted across Australia in October 2021, which received 346 responses from CEOs of businesses that…

Nearly four in ten Australian businesses feel that labour shortages are causing a “very significant” impact on their enterprises, according to new research by National Australia Bank (NAB). The research, which captured the views of 1,600 businesses of all sizes across a broad range of industries from Nov. 16 to Dec. 13, 2021, noted that,…

Industry groups have criticised Australia’s minimum wage has increased to $20.33 (US$15.45) per hour, saying it was hard to fathom the move given there were still businesses struggling from the COVID recession. The Fair Work Commission announced the 2.5 percent increase, which equals 49 cents per hour or $18.80 per week—to the minimum wage on Wednesday….

Telecommunications giant Telstra has pledged to bring its overseas call centres back to Australia within the next 18 months. A drop in customer call volume, and the prevalence of employees working from home, has allowed the country’s biggest telco to make the call. “We have reduced the volume of calls by eliminating a lot of…