Peak industry groups urge passage of IR bill this week

The peak industry bodies involved in calling for the bill to be passed include:

• Jenny Lambert, acting CEO, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI);
• Innes Willox, chief executive, Australian Industry Group (Ai Group);
• Jennifer Westacott AO, chief executive, Business Council of Australia (BCA);
• Steve Knott AM, chief executive, Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA);
• Denita Wawn, chief executive, Master Builders Australia (MBA);
• Jon Davies, chief executive officer, Australian Constructors Association (ACA);
• Paul Zahra, chief executive officer, Australian Retailers Association (ARA);
• Wes Lambert, chief executive officer, Restaurant & Catering Industry Association (RCIA);
• Dominique Lamb, chief executive officer, National Retail Association (NRA); and
• Tony Mahar, chief executive, National Farmers Federation (NFF).

In a joint statement, the industry bodies said there is “no valid reason” why the bill should be delayed.

“A failure to vote on the bill will increase uncertainty and stifle business confidence at the worst possible time — just before the JobKeeper scheme ends and as businesses are making critically important decisions on whether to retain staff,” the statement said.

“Australia is only part way through an uncertain recovery from the most severe peace-time shock since the Great Depression. With JobKeeper coming to an end, the jobs market remains very tough.”

The peak bodies pointed out that 182,000 more Australians were unemployed in January 2021 than in February 2020, while the impacts on young Australians are particularly severe.

They said there were 85,000 fewer people aged 15–24 in employment in January 2021 than in February 2020, and 61,000 fewer people aged 25–34 in employment over this period, and that these age groups account for 47 per cent of the additional unemployed over this period.

Further, GDP at the end of the December quarter was still 1.1 per cent below the level reached at the end of 2019, and gross value added in the market sector of the economy was 2.3 per cent below its level in December 2019.

“The legislation has been passed by the House of Representatives and has been scrutinised by a Senate committee, which has recommended that the bill be passed,” the statement concluded.