By Peter Roberts Just when manufacturing SMEs are really doing it tough there is anecdotal evidence that the Australian Tax Office is coming down hard on the struggling sector. Two industry representative groups report anecdotal evidence of formerly accommodating tax office staff changing their attitude in the past week…for the worse. “One minute it was…
Apprenticeship statistics are showing mixed messages with some good and bad news, but the bottom line is the year to 30 September, 2019 was yet another year in which apprenticeship commencements fell. This was the fifth year of steady decline (see graphic above) according to figures from the National Centre for Vocational and Education Research…
Poker machine and gaming manufacturer Ainsworth Game Technology has joined others in the gambling industry in announcing a big hit from the effects of the Covid-19 coronavirus. The Sydney company said that the virus had caused a large number of gaming and hospitality venues to close or seek to reduce visitation. “As a result the…
Australian businesses are gearing up capacity to boost the output of breathing ventilators which are crucial to the survival of those worst-hit by the coronavirus. From existing manufacturers such as sleep apnea business ResMed to those new to the field such as vehicle engineer Holden Special Vehicles, manufacturers are heeding the call. ResMed, which has…
CBA bank’s latest Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) shows a massive plunge in economic activity and confidence. The March 20 index, which surveys 800 Australian companies in the manufacturing and service sectors, dropped from 49.0 to 40.7, the steepest reduction since data collection began in 2016. The survey measures how output, orders, jobs, delivery times and…
Manufacturers have stepped up production of one of the key products needed to stem the spread of the coronavirus – hand sanitiser. Actually a very simple product, sanitiser such as Ego Pharmaceuticals Aquium nonetheless has a long supply chain that begins with a basic raw material, ethanol. Manildra Group is Australia’s leading producer of ethanol…
Australian Manufacturing Forum member viewpoint by Kris Gale Rock and roll fans might recognise the source material of the headline quote. It is The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again” – Roger Daltrey giving voice to the entrenched frustration Pete Townshend utilised to drive that band to greater and greater heights. And so it is with…
While many companies are winding down their operations because of the coronavirus epidemic, wireless video and data transmission technology company group Elsight is gearing up for new opportunities. The maker of equipment for real-time data, video and audio transmission over cellular networks has already augmented its supply chains with new suppliers in Israel and elsewhere.…
Rare earths producer Lynas Corporation has shut down production at its Malaysian rare earths processing facility following coronavirus restrictions on business imposed by the national government. The Perth company, which has struggled with on-again, off-again approvals to operate in Malaysia, said the shut down was currently scheduled to end on March 31. Lynas told investors:…
Only nine days after the Prime Minister Scott Morrison said it was OK to go to the footy and to church he has abruptly reversed course and begun a long-awaited closure of public places. After a first Sunday press conference announcing his second stimulus package in a week, Morrison was at a second conference on…
