07/05/17 ACCC urges action on food labelling compliance

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is urging retailers to take action to ensure compliance with new food...

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is urging retailers to take action to ensure compliance with new food labelling requirements which come into effect on 1 July 2018. Previously, country of origin labelling was regulated under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, but now these requirements have effect...

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Toppling furniture and televisions: Anchor them for child safety

The National Retail Association (NRA) has today released a Best Practice Guide for Furniture and Television Tip-Over Prevention in...

The National Retail Association (NRA) has today released a Best Practice Guide for Furniture and Television Tip-Over Prevention in an effort to improve child safety. Each year hundreds of children suffer injuries as a result of furniture and televisions toppling on them, with some suffering fatal injuries. NRA CEO Dominique Lamb...

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Consumer Law framework open for debate

HAVE YOUR SAY The Australian Government’s Productivity Commission is undertaking a study of the current administration and enforcement of the...

HAVE YOUR SAY The Australian Government’s Productivity Commission is undertaking a study of the current administration and enforcement of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). Their main task is to examine the effectiveness of the multiple-regulator model in supporting a single national consumer policy framework, and to make findings on how...

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Technology retailer under fire for ‘misleading’ Returns Policy

by Ben Desir, NRA Legal Workplace Advisor The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has instituted proceedings for misleading and...

by Ben Desir, NRA Legal Workplace Advisor The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has instituted proceedings for misleading and deceptive conduct against a technology retailer. The ACCC has accused several entities operating under the MSY Technology banner of misrepresenting consumers’ rights to remedies for faulty products, by claiming that: MSY...

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Bicycle safety standards review – call for submissions

Bicycles in Australia are currently regulated by a mandatory safety standard that sets out requirements for braking, steering function,...

Bicycles in Australia are currently regulated by a mandatory safety standard that sets out requirements for braking, steering function, reflectors, bells, identification markers and user guidance. In addition to the mandatory standard all State and Territory road rules require bicycles to have a brake, reflectors and a bell. The Australian...

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“No refunds” unlawful

Christmas & Australian Consumer Law Obligations As consumers start their Christmas shopping early, the National Retail Association are reminding retail...

Christmas & Australian Consumer Law Obligations As consumers start their Christmas shopping early, the National Retail Association are reminding retail businesses to revise and align their exchange, return and refund policies to meet the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission standards. The ACCC Commissioner, Sarah Court, reported that many clothing retailers have...

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Message from the CEO: 3 October 2016

Last week I mentioned the ongoing review of the General Retail Industry Award, and specifically the issue of penalty...

Last week I mentioned the ongoing review of the General Retail Industry Award, and specifically the issue of penalty rates for Sundays.  This week I attended a talk on the issue by the President of the Fair Work Commission, Justice Iain Ross.  While he didn’t comment on the likely...

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OzSale hit with more fines

The ACCC has hit online fashion retailer OzSale with a $500,000 fine for failing to comply with mandatory safety...

The ACCC has hit online fashion retailer OzSale with a $500,000 fine for failing to comply with mandatory safety standards. Proceedings in the Federal Court alleged the member-only shopping club sold children’s nightwear between July 2014 and October 2015 which did not meet Australian safety standards in relation to at...

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ACCC give thumbs up for The Good Guys buy

Last week, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) gave JB Hi-Fi the thumbs up to buy The Good...

Last week, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) gave JB Hi-Fi the thumbs up to buy The Good Guys. The ACCC chairman Rod Sims stated that the takeover would not reduce competition in consumer electronics or whitegoods as JB Hi-Fi were focused on different product categories and consumers than...

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Message from the CEO: 15 August 2016

Last week we discussed the Australian Bureau of Statistics retail trade figures for June, which continued a year-long pattern...

Last week we discussed the Australian Bureau of Statistics retail trade figures for June, which continued a year-long pattern for the sector of almost standing still when population growth is factored in. As we’ve been analysing the highlights of the industry over the last year, however, there have generally...

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MEMBER ONLY ARTICLE – 7-Eleven targeted with new national policies set to eliminate wage fraud

In light of the recent election results, the Coalition is set to make dramatic changes to businesses engaging in...

In light of the recent election results, the Coalition is set to make dramatic changes to businesses engaging in wage fraud. With $20 million worth of funding, the Coalition is set to introduce a policy which will clamp down on wage fraud nationally, alongside new penalties which will be...

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Message from the CEO: 27 June 2016

For many years there has been intense debate across the retail and shopping centre industries concerning how retail leases...

For many years there has been intense debate across the retail and shopping centre industries concerning how retail leases are regulated and issues surrounding distortions in market power. There has been numerous reviews by the Productivity Commission resulting in the lodgement of significant numbers of submissions from both sides of...

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Is your business prepared for the new financial year?

Business doesn’t stop on 30 June. There are no grace periods for getting some well-earned shut eye as the...

Business doesn’t stop on 30 June. There are no grace periods for getting some well-earned shut eye as the doors open back up and the online orders keep rolling in. Most businesses have tunnel vision at this tough time of year, however it’s important to keep the future in the...

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Message from the CEO: 30 May 2016

The media attention surrounding the 7-Eleven chain last year was a wake-up call for the entire retail industry. At...

The media attention surrounding the 7-Eleven chain last year was a wake-up call for the entire retail industry. At the time, the National Retail Association urged all retailers to ensure they understood and were actively complying with their obligations to employees in relation to pay rates and conditions. This week...

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Coalition propose new plan to protect vulnerable workers

Details of the Coalition’s plan for a strong new economy have been revealed including a policy to protect vulnerable...

Details of the Coalition’s plan for a strong new economy have been revealed including a policy to protect vulnerable workers following the recent 7-Eleven wages scandal. The controversy and issues surrounding the exploitation of staff at 7-Eleven has demonstrated the need to strengthen existing laws. More specifically, this saga has...

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Product safety and compliance challenges

The National Retail Technical Standards Committee will be meeting in Sydney later this month to discuss the current challenges...

The National Retail Technical Standards Committee will be meeting in Sydney later this month to discuss the current challenges of product safety and compliance. The committee is an important forum for the development of the retail industry policy. It communicates regularly with government decision-makers and agencies, including Standards Australia, the...

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