Health Minister needs to listen to his government colleagues on vaping

Australian retailers have urged the Federal Health Minister to listen to his government colleagues and allow small businesses to...

Australian retailers have urged the Federal Health Minister to listen to his government colleagues and allow small businesses to supply smoke-free alternatives to current consumers of cigarettes and tobacco products. The Chair’s report from the Senate Committee on Tobacco Harm Reduction, released today, sets out a clear and rational case...

Read More

New action on unnecessary plastic packaging  

The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) has published the APCO Action Plan for Problematic and Unnecessary Single-Use Plastic Packaging, designed to help Australia’s...

The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) has published the APCO Action Plan for Problematic and Unnecessary Single-Use Plastic Packaging, designed to help Australia’s packaging supply chain phase out problematic and unnecessary single-use plastic packaging through innovative and sustainable solutions.    The action plan will help drive the necessary change at each step of the packaging supply chain...

Read More

Message from the CEO | 15 December 2020

As we enter the final few weeks of a hectic year, there is no rest for retail. Christmas shopping continues...

As we enter the final few weeks of a hectic year, there is no rest for retail. Christmas shopping continues to go well across the country, thanks to consumer sentiment reaching a 10-year high. With Australians not descending across the world for holidays throughout summer, we are optimistic that discretionary...

Read More

7 ways 2D scanners can transform your retail operations

The main interaction shoppers have with a retailer often comes at the point-of-sale. Retailers need fast and accurate transactions...

The main interaction shoppers have with a retailer often comes at the point-of-sale. Retailers need fast and accurate transactions to keep queues flowing smoothly, keep their customers returning time after time and provide an exceptional customer experience. Enter 2D scanners. 2D scanners can help retailers improve their customer service, encourage...

Read More

South Australia introduces mandatory QR code check ins for retail

From today, all general retail industry premises in South Australia must have a completed COVID Safe Plan and a...

From today, all general retail industry premises in South Australia must have a completed COVID Safe Plan and a QR code that customers will use to check in as they enter. All people entering the place must upload their relevant contact details to the approved contact tracing system. This upload...

Read More

Retailers back the Morrison Government’s vital industrial relations reforms

The National Retail Association has welcomed proposed legislation by the Morrison Government to provide greater clarity on casual employment...

The National Retail Association has welcomed proposed legislation by the Morrison Government to provide greater clarity on casual employment laws and prevent job-destroying backpay claims. The Bill to be introduced before Federal Parliament this week seeks to provide greater clarity to both workers and employers regarding pay entitlements while also...

Read More

Message from the CEO | 8 December 2020

There has been big news out of Canberra this week after the Morrison Government unveiled key industrial relations reforms...

There has been big news out of Canberra this week after the Morrison Government unveiled key industrial relations reforms that strongly relate to the retail sector. As you’re all aware, ever since a 2018 Federal Court ruling there has been a high degree of uncertainty across several industries in relation...

Read More

SafeCity Network Crime Alert: Counterfeit banknotes on the rise

Retailers have reported a rise in the frequency and quality of counterfeit bank notes. The busy Christmas shopping season...

Retailers have reported a rise in the frequency and quality of counterfeit bank notes. The busy Christmas shopping season is prime time for counterfeit notes to pass through without detection as staff don't have the time to check. Though fake $50 notes remain the most popular, with the release of...

Read More

Business Interruption Insurance Claims & COVID-19

Authored by Natasha Milne, Vincents   Last month, the NSW Court of Appeal ruled against insurers in the business interruption Test...

Authored by Natasha Milne, Vincents   Last month, the NSW Court of Appeal ruled against insurers in the business interruption Test Case, potentially opening the door for thousands of businesses to make an insurance claim. Covid-19 has caused significant disruption and losses of billions of dollars to businesses across many industries. Business interruption...

Read More

Registrations have opened for the JobMaker hiring credit

Eligible employers are now able to register for the new JobMaker Hiring Credit scheme, being administered by the Australian...

Eligible employers are now able to register for the new JobMaker Hiring Credit scheme, being administered by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) on behalf of the Government. The JobMaker Hiring Credit payment is a wage subsidy paid directly to employers that will help to accelerate growth in the employment of...

Read More

NEWSFLASH – SA Government seeking urgent input on the single-use plastic legislation

Green Industries SA (GISA) are urgently seeking South Australian business input via a survey designed to benchmark awareness and...

Green Industries SA (GISA) are urgently seeking South Australian business input via a survey designed to benchmark awareness and knowledge of the single-use plastic legislation. South Australian businesses, especially those in food and hospitality, should take notice and contribute their feedback as this legislation will affect your business. Businesses can be...

Read More

Retail recovery on track with October sales spike

Australian retail is on a road to recovery after today’s Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) report for October revealed...

Australian retail is on a road to recovery after today’s Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) report for October revealed that nationwide turnover rose by 1.4 per cent. National Retail Association (NRA) Deputy CEO Lindsay Carroll said the ABS results would provide a boost in confidence to the sector as the...

Read More

Retailers call last straw for single-use plastics

The National Retail Association (NRA) supports the re-introduction of legislation to ban single-use plastic items in Queensland, starting with straws, stirrers,...

The National Retail Association (NRA) supports the re-introduction of legislation to ban single-use plastic items in Queensland, starting with straws, stirrers, cutlery and plates.   The NRA commends the Queensland Government’s strong track record reducing the devastating impact of plastic waste and protecting our environment and marine life.   The NRA is proud to be active...

Read More

16 major Queensland towns facing a four-day grocery drought at Christmas

Queenslanders in 16 major regional centres have been warned to brace for an unprecedented four-day closure, as a result...

Queenslanders in 16 major regional centres have been warned to brace for an unprecedented four-day closure, as a result of the state’s antiquated trading hours laws.  Because of how the gazetted public holidays fall in 2020, major stores in regional areas will be forced to shut their doors at 6pm...

Read More

Underpaying vulnerable workers sees franchisee penalised $230,040 by Court

By Andrew Piper and Alex Millman, NRA Legal   An ex-franchisee has been slapped with over $230,000 worth of penalties by...

By Andrew Piper and Alex Millman, NRA Legal   An ex-franchisee has been slapped with over $230,000 worth of penalties by the Federal Circuit Court for continuing to underpay vulnerable workers despite being prosecuted previously for similar conduct. This prosecution is particularly significant since it is the first time that the Fair...

Read More

Message from the CEO | 1 December 2020

The final month of the year has arrived and we’re into the home stretch before the Christmas and New...

The final month of the year has arrived and we’re into the home stretch before the Christmas and New Year break. If it didn’t yet feel like we were getting back to life as normal, the sight of bustling shopping precincts on Black Friday certainly did remind us of the...

Read More