Australian Industry Group
The Australian Industry Group,[1] also called Ai Group, is an employers' organisation, whose members employ over 750,000 people throughout Australia.[2] The organisation covers a wide range of industries including manufacturing,[3] engineering, construction, automotive, food, transport, information technology, telecommunications, call centres, labour hire, printing, defence, mining equipment and supplies, airlines, and other related service industries. It is one of the largest industry organisations in Australia.[4]
Type | NGO |
---|---|
Purpose | To represent business interests |
Region served | Australia |
Chief Executive | Innes Willox |
Staff | 300+ |
Website | www |
Ai Group actively collaborates with institutions such as the Housing Industry Association,[5] the accountancy firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers,[6] and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia[7] to produce surveys of the various industries it represents, releasing both status reports on large sections of the Australian economy,[8] and of specific industries like the Australian construction industry[9] and the manufacturing sector.[10] Deloitte sponsors Ai Group's premier annual event the National Forum and Annual National Dinner.[11] The group maintains influences in a variety of public policy areas, weighing in on such issues as the response to the Fair Work Act 2009,[12][13] minimum wage,[14] skill shortages,[15] environment and energy,[16][17] occupational health and safety,[18][19] trade,[20] and defence.[21] Ai Group provides information, advice and assistance to help members. Through policy leadership and research-based advocacy members are represented at all levels of government by representing and promoting their interests on current and emerging issues.
Ai Group members operate small, medium and large businesses. They include many major Australian and global companies operating in a range of industries. The Group itself employs more than 300 people and 550 apprentices and trainees through its training arm, Australian Industry Group Training Services.[22]
History
The Australian Industry Group traces its foundations back to 1873, with the creation of the Metal Trades Industry Association (MTIA). In 1998, MTIA merged with the Australian Chamber of Manufactures (ACM), forming Ai Group.[23]
Ai Group has a strong media presence[24][25][26] and is also on Twitter with the account @The_AiGroup.
Services
The organisation includes workplace relations advisers, lawyers and employment and business specialists who provide services to members in the areas of workplace relations,[27] legal, human resource management, occupational health and safety, workers' compensation, the environment and energy,[28] international trade and export, economics, tax,[29] business growth and skills.
Management
Innes Willox was appointed as the Chief Executive of Ai Group in 2012[30] and is their chief spokesperson. Heather Ridout previously held the role. Ai Group also operates the Ai Group Defence Council,[31] which is the peak body representing the defence industry in Australia. Ai Group also manages the Australian Constructors Association.[32]
Affiliations
Ai Group is closely affiliated with more than 50 other employer groups in Australia alone and directly manages a number of those organisations.
The organisation has formal and long standing links with more than 80 overseas employer organisations such as the Confederation of Indian Industry; the Chinese Machinery Industry Federation;[33] The Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry; the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers;[34] the US National Association of Manufacturers;[35] the Confederation of British Industry[36] and Business New Zealand.[37]
See also
References
- "Australian Industry Group". Archived from the original on 11 May 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
- "Australian Industry Group Page Archived 2 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine". Australian Competition and Consumer Commission site. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
- "Ai Group calls to improve manufacturing procurement". Archived from the original on 25 August 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- "Aussie Dollar's Strength Dismays Industry Groups". Archived from the original on 25 January 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
- "Outlook: Aus shares look set for firmer start" (7 April 2011). Finance News Network. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
- "Asian Markets Trade Higher" (31 March 2011). RTTNews. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
- "Services sector activity contracts again" (5 April 2011). The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
- Perrin, C.J. "Australian Services Sector Underperforms in March Archived 22 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine" (5 April 2011). International Business Times. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
- Heath, Michael. "Australian Construction Index Falls to Lowest in Two Years, Survey shows" (6 April 2011). Bloomberg. Retrieved 13 April 2011
- Rogow, Geoffrey. "Australian Manufacturing Rocked by Currency Rise" (31 March 2011). The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
- "Ai Group National Forum and Annual National Dinner". Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
- "Innes Willox Opinion Piece on the 'bogus scourge of insecure work' AFR, 4 December 2012" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 December 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
- Schneiders, Ben. "Ridout calls for Overhaul of Fair Work laws" (31 March 2011). The Age. Retrieved 13 April 2011
- Heffernan, Madeleine. "AIG calls for a $14-a-week rise in minimum wage and delay for flood-hit employers Archived 28 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine" (21 March 2011). smartcompany.com. Retrieved 13 April 2011
- "Skills shortages". Archived from the original on 3 September 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
- "Energy report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 September 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
- "Climate policy submission" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 September 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
- "QLD workers comp increase to hurt business". Archived from the original on 3 September 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
- "NSW OHS". Archived from the original on 3 September 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
- "Ai Group comment on Austrade". Archived from the original on 3 September 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
- "Ai Group welcomes Defence appointments". Archived from the original on 3 September 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 23 April 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-10.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Industry, the Australian Industry Group Magazine" (PDF). AIG. March 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 September 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
- "Industry wants more under $23 carbon price". Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
- "Wall Street Journal". The Wall Street Journal. 2 October 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
- "'Compliance costs stifling growth' Herald Sun". Retrieved 19 October 2011.
- "Ai Group IR appeal win". Archived from the original on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
- "Climate Bill should be amended". Archived from the original on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
- "Tax summit". Archived from the original on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
- "Ai Group Chief Executive". Archived from the original on 26 July 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
- "Ai Group Defence Council". Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
- "Australian Constructors Association". Retrieved 10 June 2011.
- "Chinese Machinery Industry Federation". Archived from the original on 19 August 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
- "Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry". Retrieved 10 June 2011.
- "US National Association of Manufacturing". Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
- "Confederation on British Industry". Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
- "Business New Zealand". Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2011.