Retailers welcome JobKeeper certainty, but business conditions remain grim

The National Retail Association (NRA) has welcomed the Federal Government’s extension of the JobKeeper subsidy until March 2021, but...

The National Retail Association (NRA) has welcomed the Federal Government’s extension of the JobKeeper subsidy until March 2021, but warned that the economic climate remains hostile for many businesses. The Prime Minister announced today that once the current JobKeeper rate expires in September, the scheme will continue at a lowered...

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Optimism returning to small businesses in Australia, but fears of a slow rebound persist

The overwhelming majority of Australian small business owners (80 per cent) are optimistic their business will survive the COVID-19...

The overwhelming majority of Australian small business owners (80 per cent) are optimistic their business will survive the COVID-19 pandemic; however, if trade doesn’t pick up quickly enough, about half (52 per cent) fear for their long-term survival, according to this year’s Small Business Recovery research commissioned by American...

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COVID-19 Update | 20 July 2020

Face masks and coverings mandatory for metropolitan Melbourne and Shire of Mitchell Yesterday, Premier Daniel Andrews announced that from 11:59pm...

Face masks and coverings mandatory for metropolitan Melbourne and Shire of Mitchell Yesterday, Premier Daniel Andrews announced that from 11:59pm on Wednesday, 22 July 2020, face coverings will be mandatory for everyone aged 12 years and over.  Advice states if you can, do not wait for the Wednesday deadline but...

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COVID-19 Update | 17 July 2020

NSW tightens COVID-19 restrictions on "higher risk" activities Premier Gladys Berejiklian today announced that restrictions on certain activities would be...

NSW tightens COVID-19 restrictions on "higher risk" activities Premier Gladys Berejiklian today announced that restrictions on certain activities would be put into place as more venues in Sydney have been identified as hot spots. From 12:01am Friday, 24 July 2020 the following rules will be in force as NSW enters...

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Suburban Adelaide shops and supermarkets required to revert to pre-COVID-19 hours of operation from 19 July 2020

Suburban Adelaide shops and supermarkets will be required to revert to their pre-COVID-19 hours of operation from this Sunday,...

Suburban Adelaide shops and supermarkets will be required to revert to their pre-COVID-19 hours of operation from this Sunday, with the State Government announcing it will not be granting a further 30-day exemption to support physical distancing. Under the 30-day exemptions – the first of which came into effect on...

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Virtual TryOn at the Forefront of Reimagining the Retail Experience Post-Pandemic

As retailers across the nation reopen their doors, Aussie shoppers are returning to a drastically different era of retail. Waiting...

As retailers across the nation reopen their doors, Aussie shoppers are returning to a drastically different era of retail. Waiting lines, hand sanitiser stations and temperature checks have many shoppers questioning why they ever braved crowded car parks and noisy food courts to begin with. To top that off, several of...

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Message from the CEO: 14 July 2020

A week ago today, the Victorian Government announced Stage 3 Lockdown measures would be reimposed on metropolitan Melbourne and...

A week ago today, the Victorian Government announced Stage 3 Lockdown measures would be reimposed on metropolitan Melbourne and the Shire of Mitchell. Over the past two days, there is now a recommendation to wear face masks within these regions in order to contain the spread of the virus....

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COVID-19 Update | 9 July 2020

National Cabinet to reduce international arrivals by half, quarantine program under review The Prime Minister announced in a press conference...

National Cabinet to reduce international arrivals by half, quarantine program under review The Prime Minister announced in a press conference this afternoon that there would be a reduction in the number of returning citizens and residents over the next few weeks.There are no travellers returning to Victoria due to the...

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COVID-19 Update | 7 July 2020

Victoria announces return to Stage 3 Lockdown in metropolitan Melbourne and Shire of Mitchell Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews, has this...

Victoria announces return to Stage 3 Lockdown in metropolitan Melbourne and Shire of Mitchell Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews, has this afternoon announced that based on the advice of the Chief Health Officer, Stage 3 'Stay at Home' restrictions will be reinstated across metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire from 11:59pm on Wednesday...

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FWC finds the limits to JobKeeper stand downs

By Alex Millman and Lindsay Carroll, NRA Legal The Fair Work Commission has, for the first time in the short...

By Alex Millman and Lindsay Carroll, NRA Legal The Fair Work Commission has, for the first time in the short life of the JobKeeper jurisdiction, tested exactly how far a JobKeeper stand down direction can go in reducing an employee’s hours. In a decision handed down earlier this week, Deputy President...

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Message from the CEO: 7 July 2020

It’s a somber start to the week, as the rapid escalation of COVID-19 cases in Victoria has caused Queensland,...

It’s a somber start to the week, as the rapid escalation of COVID-19 cases in Victoria has caused Queensland, New South Wales and the ACT to close their borders to travellers from this state. We have seen the public housing estates go into complete lockdown, and the Premier of...

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Message from the CEO: 30 June 2020

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) is currently considering an application by the SDA to reverse the final reduction to...

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) is currently considering an application by the SDA to reverse the final reduction to Sunday penalty rates in the General Retail Industry Award 2010, due to take effect from 1 July 2020 (tomorrow). In addition to making a formal submission to the FWC opposing any...

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Retail rebounds in May as restrictions lifted, long road to recovery still ahead

Retail turnover rebounded in May by 16.3 per cent following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, according to the preliminary...

Retail turnover rebounded in May by 16.3 per cent following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, according to the preliminary retail trade report released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). However, NRA CEO Dominique Lamb said that a sizeable rise in sales was guaranteed to happen as shops began to...

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Further extension of COVID-19 trading arrangements in Greater Adelaide

The Hon Rob Lucas MLC, Treasurer, has announced a further 30 day exemption for extended trading hours in the...

The Hon Rob Lucas MLC, Treasurer, has announced a further 30 day exemption for extended trading hours in the Greater Adelaide Shopping District (CBD & Suburbs). SA Health officials continue to support extended shop trading as a measure which assists in physical distancing.  “The public health advice is clear and,...

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Big grants for small business: NSW Government announces new recovery grants

The New South Wales government is doing all it can to help local businesses get back on their feet....

The New South Wales government is doing all it can to help local businesses get back on their feet. It was announced Tuesday 16th June that new recovery grants will become available from July 1st 2020. “Today we signal to the people of NSW a shift in direction, from response...

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Message from the CEO: 16 June 2020

Last week the Federal Attorney-General, Christian Porter, announced the memberships of the five industrial relations working groups charged with...

Last week the Federal Attorney-General, Christian Porter, announced the memberships of the five industrial relations working groups charged with ensuring Australia has an appropriate IR system to ensure a speedy economic recovery. I’m pleased to announce that the NRA has been selected to sit on the Award Simplification working group....

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