Retailers embrace lightweight plastic bag bans, but call for national alignment

New laws banning the supply of lightweight plastic shopping bags with handles will come into effect across New South...

New laws banning the supply of lightweight plastic shopping bags with handles will come into effect across New South Wales on Wednesday 1 June.  The National Retail Association has been working closely with the NSW Government over the past few months to provide advice and resources to thousands of retailers,...

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NSW plastic bag ban guide for businesses

With a week to go until the lightweight plastic shopping bag ban, we're myth-busting what's actually being phased out....

With a week to go until the lightweight plastic shopping bag ban, we're myth-busting what's actually being phased out. NSW plastic bag ban Media reporting earlier this week has made it sound like all lightweight plastic shopping bags. This isn't the case causing unnecessary confusion for many small businesses.   What bags are...

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Retailers support NSW single-use plastics ban

The National Retail Association (NRA) has commended the New South Wales Government for passing legislation today to ban certain...

The National Retail Association (NRA) has commended the New South Wales Government for passing legislation today to ban certain single-use plastic items, starting with lightweight plastic shopping bags in June 2022. A second stage will follow with single-use plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery, bowls and plates, as well as expanded...

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NSW plastics strategy will drive positive environmental and business change

MEDIA RELEASE  The National Retail Association (NRA) commends Minister Kean and the Berejiklian Government on their comprehensive plastic and waste...

MEDIA RELEASE  The National Retail Association (NRA) commends Minister Kean and the Berejiklian Government on their comprehensive plastic and waste strategy for New South Wales, announced today. By the end of next year, single-use plastics like lightweight plastic shopping bags, single-use plastic straws, stirrers, and cutlery, as well as expanded polystyrene...

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Questions answered on retailer obligations under new NSW Covid Safe measures

As part of new Covid Safe measures that came in to place on Monday 23 November, businesses are now...

As part of new Covid Safe measures that came in to place on Monday 23 November, businesses are now required to use electronic check-in methods to collect patron details. Under the new requirement, businesses are also required to ensure patrons have provided the required information and must deny entry...

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NRA applauds NSW 24-hour supermarket trading, urges other states to follow

The National Retail Association (NRA) has applauded the move by the New South Wales Government to provide supermarkets with the opportunity to trade...

The National Retail Association (NRA) has applauded the move by the New South Wales Government to provide supermarkets with the opportunity to trade 24-hours a day, seven days a week and urged other states to follow suit. Overnight Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes announced an immediate lifting of restrictions on what hours...

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New one-stop shop customer care specialists for bushfire affected communities

Bush fire affected families and businesses can now access all available assistance being offered by local councils, the State...

Bush fire affected families and businesses can now access all available assistance being offered by local councils, the State Government and Federal Government, through the NSW Government’s new Bush fire Customer Care program. Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for Disaster Recovery John Barilaro said the one-stop shop service, administered by...

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Message from the CEO: 19 November 2019

I’d like to start my column this week by expressing my condolences to all those affected by the bushfires...

I’d like to start my column this week by expressing my condolences to all those affected by the bushfires that have ravaged numerous parts of the country. There is never a good time to experience the devastating impact of a natural disaster, but with just over a month until Christmas...

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NSW State Government to prevent discrimination against pregnant women

By Sid Sidhu and Emma Treherne, NRA Legal You may be surprised to learn that as it stands, the New...

By Sid Sidhu and Emma Treherne, NRA Legal You may be surprised to learn that as it stands, the New South Wales anti-discrimination laws do not prohibit employers from discriminating against prospective job seekers who are pregnant during the application process or at the date of the interview. Similarly, where an...

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Policy Update: Boxing Day shopping here to stay in NSW

Boxing Day trade continues in NSW The NSW Government today announced it will legislate to allow Boxing Day trade to...

Boxing Day trade continues in NSW The NSW Government today announced it will legislate to allow Boxing Day trade to continue in all parts of NSW, in accordance with the findings of an independent review by Professor Percy Allan AM which considered feedback from retailers, employees and shoppers. NRA will update...

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Employer forced to pay employee for ‘harsh’ porn dismissal

Written by Alex Millman and Troy Wild, NRA Legal On 24 April 2017 the New South Wales Industrial Relations Commission...

Written by Alex Millman and Troy Wild, NRA Legal On 24 April 2017 the New South Wales Industrial Relations Commission awarded compensation to a State employee who had been fired after pornographic emails, including images of naked children, were found in her work email account. The employer argued that the employee...

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NSW serves up high standard of food safety

by David Stout, NRA Policy & Industry Engagement At the NRA we are committed to ensuring that we are proactively...

by David Stout, NRA Policy & Industry Engagement At the NRA we are committed to ensuring that we are proactively seeking to have an intimate understanding of issues, such as food safety, in order to best advise our members throughout Australia. The Retail and Food Service Industry Group regularly hold information...

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NSW Skills List under review

The NSW Department of Industry is currently reviewing the NSW Skills List.    The Skills List identifies the qualifications eligible...

The NSW Department of Industry is currently reviewing the NSW Skills List.    The Skills List identifies the qualifications eligible for a government subsidy under Smart and Skilled and includes a wide range of qualifications to support the diverse skills needs of NSW employers. The Skills List covers: Certificate ll to Advanced...

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New megacentre for Sydney

A new large format retail centre, Lifestyle Connection Woodpark, will soon commence construction at Smithfield, in Sydney's South West. The...

A new large format retail centre, Lifestyle Connection Woodpark, will soon commence construction at Smithfield, in Sydney's South West. The site will offer a range of store sizes from 70sqm to over 6,000sqm of large format space. Located on the Corner of Woodpark Road & The Cumberland Highway Smithfield, the centre will...

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Changes to NSW Retail Leases Act soon to become law

The NSW Retail Leases Amendment (Review) Bill 2016 has now passed parliament and will soon become law. The commencement...

The NSW Retail Leases Amendment (Review) Bill 2016 has now passed parliament and will soon become law. The commencement date is to be gazetted by parliament at later date. The amendment brings in a number of changes for retailers in NSW: 1. Jurisdictional Limit The New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal...

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NSW leads the way in retail spend: CommSec

How are retail businesses performing across each of Australia’s states and territories? Each quarter CommSec analyses key indicators across the...

How are retail businesses performing across each of Australia’s states and territories? Each quarter CommSec analyses key indicators across the Australian economy and compares current performance with decade averages, and each of the states. According to the CommSec State of the States January report, NSW has maintained the top spot on the retail...

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