Australia’s peak employer association welcomed the commitments in the budget but said it failed to target the country’s structural economic challenges. Innes Willox, CEO of the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group), said the budget’s contribution to the productivity agenda was limited to positive initiatives that would boost the workforce over time. “Today’s federal budget risks…

The Australian economy recorded marginal growth in the first quarter of 2022, even though the country suffered from the impacts of the flood crisis and the COVID-19 Omicron variant. According to the March quarter national accounts, the economy expanded by 0.8 percent, a far cry from the revised 3.6 percent growth in the December quarter….

Australian industrial peak bodies have anticipated that the latest interest rate hike will drive down demand in the construction industry, with the residential sector expected to be significantly affected. The Australian Industry Group and Housing Industry Association’s performance of construction index for April dropped by 0.6 points to 55.9. A score above 50 indicates an…

Homebuilding approvals across Australia plummeted in January 2022 due to a higher level of absenteeism and a slower administration process caused by the adverse effects of the COVID-19 Omicron variant. More specifically, both private sector houses and the more unstable “other dwellings” category witnessed a sharp fall in the number of approvals in January. According…

The disruptions from Omicron caused a contraction in the construction industry during the summer holidays, reversing the November recovery, according to the Australian Performance of Construction Index. The index fell 11.1 points to 45.9 in December and January, where readings below 50 indicate a contraction in activity, with lower results meaning a faster contraction. The…

Australian manufacturing activity contracted over the summer holiday period as the Omicron outbreak caused disruptions. Australian Industry Group’s Manufacturing Index fell by 6.4 points to 48.4 during December and January, representing the challenges around staff availability and further disruptions to supply chains. A reading of below 50 points indicates a contraction of activity. Ai Group…

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…

In the second Religious Discrimination Bill meeting on Jan. 13, Melbourne Archbishop Peter Comensoli stated that he would not put forward any amendments and expressed that this act will finally protect all different groups of discrimination following disability, LGBTIQ and aged groups. At the meeting, Comensoli expressed that religious schools should be allowed the right…

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced, following the national cabinet meeting, that close contact isolation rules changes will be expanded to help ease supply chain issues and keep the economy running. The earlier changes that allowed food and grocery workers identified as close contacts to return to work with a negative test result for COVID-19…

Australian customers are finding that staff shortages have not only affected supermarket shelves, but also the operation of fast-food giants, such as McDonald’s and KFC. KFC is experiencing a shortage of poultry meat, forcing some of its restaurants to offer a reduced menu. “Like many businesses across Australia, our supply chain & workforce has been…