Public Affairs & Policy
The NRA represents the views of retailers and the service sector to governments and policy makers. We take the opportunity of our regular meetings with Ministers and bureaucrats around the country to express the views and concerns of employers.
Politicians, from the Prime Minister down, have attended our meetings and functions. We have also hosted decision makers such as the Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the Governor of the Reserve Bank.
Issues such as education and training, industrial relations, trade practices and taxation have all been on the agenda at these discussions.
We can also help on an individual basis if you need an issue raised with a politician or bureaucrat, or if you need submissions made to government or require advice about issues management.
Important Links
Essential Government Business Information
Explanation of the new Independent Contractor Laws
Media Release - Major Employers of Young People bypass NSW
Review of the Liquor Act Discussion Paper
Current Activity
'Econtech' Economic Report on Workplace Reform
A report on workplace reform by the independent economic consultancy, Econtech, was released on 10 August 2007.
The report, 'The Economic Effects of Industrial Relations Reforms Since 1993', examines the economic benefit to Australia of the workplace reforms of 1993, 1996 and 2006, and the economic consequences by 2011 should those reforms be reversed.
The Econtech report provides clear and contemporary evidence of the case for workplace reform that has been pursued over this period of time by private employers. The report finds that should the workplace reforms since 1993 be reversed, then by 2011:
- a person on average wages with an average mortgage will be $4,063 worse off per year (comprising a $787 cut to real wages after tax and a $3,276 increase in mortgage repayments);
- GDP will be $57 billion or 4.8 percent lower, which is equivalent to $2,700 per person;
- business investment will be $11 billion lower, a fall of 5.6 percent;
- employment will be cut by 2.9 percent, with 316,000 jobs lost;
- the cost of living (CPI) will be 1.3 percentage points higher; and
- due to the higher rate of inflation, interest rates will be 1.4 percent higher by 2011, with repayments on the average mortgage $273 higher per month.
Separate calculations drawn from data in the report show that winding back workplace reforms will cause Australia's ranking against world GDP per person to fall from 8th to 14th.
A full copy of the report is available here. Please click here.
NRA submission to the Productivity Commission Public Enquiry, 27 July 2007
"THE MARKET FOR RETAIL TENANCY LEASES IN AUSTRALIA"
Arising from an instruction from The Australian Government, the Productivity Commission has invited submissions by Circular and Issues Paper dated 20 June 2007, on the market for retail tenancy leases, relevant to its brief to:
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Make recommendations for improving the retail tenancy market in Australia; and
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To identify, and where practicable, quantify the likely benefits and costs of those recommendations for retail tenants, landlords, investors and the community generally.
The Commission has listed a range of matters to which it is to have regard, in undertaking its assessments.
The National Retail Association, as an important Retail Industry stakeholder on behalf of its members, has been invited to make a submission, and is pleased to respond, within the limited time available, on what it regards as some of the more important issues identified by the Commission, and that are within its direct experience.
To view the NRA submission please click here
NRA submission to the Australian Fair Pay Commission, March 2007
In its submission to the AFPC, the NRA has argued that:
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The 2007 general pay increase should not operate before 1 December 2007
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The 2007 general pay increase should not exceed $10 per week
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Junior employees should not be awarded additional pay increases arising from the AFPC's review of junior wage rates
To view the NRA submission please click here
NRA CEO addresses the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission
The NRA's CEO Pat McKendry delivered a key note address on 1 May 2007 at the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission. He spoke on the impact of current industrial relations laws on social justice and economic growth. To view a copy of the address please click here
Tax Issues
The NRA has continued to actively pursue the ATO over its arbitrary and unreasonable attempts to enforce a radical new stock valuation method upon all retailers and wholesalers.
It is evident that some retailers have chosen to adopt the ATO's preferred method of "absorption costing", but many others will find this is a costly and burdensome impost. NRA has co-operated with other business groups (eg the ACCI and the NSW Chamber of Commerce) and with professional accounting bodies (led by the Institute of Chartered Accountants) to protest both the content of draft ruling TR2005/D11, and also the attempts to impose it retrospectively - as at 30 June 2004. A Business Review newsletter picked up on our recent Monday Update articles on the issue, and ran a feature about this story.
We have also supplemented our approaches to the Taxation Commissioner with briefings of a number of Senators and parliamentarians in the hope that even though governments cannot direct the ATO in its day-to-day operations, they may be able to persuade it to act more reasonably.
NRA CEO addresses the Training Forum 2007 - Reform to Transform
The NRA's CEO Patrick McKendry addressed the forum on 14 May in Perth. The agenda item was "Quality as a Driver". To view a copy of the address please click here.
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