Victorian Wage Theft Bill 2020 passes, introduces criminal offences for employers

In the middle of a pandemic that has left the nation in economic turmoil and prompted Australia’s first recession...

In the middle of a pandemic that has left the nation in economic turmoil and prompted Australia’s first recession since 1991, the Victorian Government has passed the Wage Theft Bill 2020 (Vic) which puts employers around Victoria at risk of criminal prosecution. The Bill creates new criminal offences in Victoria...

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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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More red tape for VIC retailers not needed as country enters recession

The National Retail Association (NRA) has attacked the Victorian Government for imposing unnecessary red tape on struggling small retailers...

The National Retail Association (NRA) has attacked the Victorian Government for imposing unnecessary red tape on struggling small retailers as Australia enters its first recession in 30 years. Earlier the Victorian Parliament passed the Wage Theft Bill 2020, despite staunch opposition from the small business community who argued that federal...

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Industry & community groups combine to support ban on EPS foodware

The National Retail Association plus industry and community groups have contacted the Queensland Government today to express their support...

The National Retail Association plus industry and community groups have contacted the Queensland Government today to express their support for a ban on expanded polystyrene (EPS) foodware. Members of the QLD Stakeholder Advisory Group on the proposed single-use plastics ban, have written a joint letter recommending that EPS takeaway cups,...

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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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nbn™ COVID-19 Behavioural Change Survey: 7 in 10 consciously supporting local businesses and set to do more online

Almost half of respondents say their households have increased their online shopping activities since the COVID-19 crisis began ...

Almost half of respondents say their households have increased their online shopping activities since the COVID-19 crisis began 70% say they are now consciously supporting local businesses online 70% would like to support more local businesses, but felt they only had a limited online presenceA groundswell of support...

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nbn™ Australian Covid-19 Behavioural Change Survey: 8 in 10 experiencing better work/life flexibility

81% of respondents say the experience of working from home has positively changed the way they think about...

81% of respondents say the experience of working from home has positively changed the way they think about Managing customer work/life flexibility. 67% say they expect to work from home more after the COVID-19 crisis has ended. 81% of work from home respondents agreed access to fast broadband...

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What to remember for tax time 2020

2020 has been a very challenging time for businesses, with COVID-19, bushfires and drought taking an unprecedented toll on...

2020 has been a very challenging time for businesses, with COVID-19, bushfires and drought taking an unprecedented toll on many. While tax and super may not be on the top of your mind during these times, we want to make it as easy as possible for you and are...

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Managing customer frustration with cashless transactions

Many retailers have implemented store policies against cash transactions to minimise the risk of transferring the COVID-19 virus from one...

Many retailers have implemented store policies against cash transactions to minimise the risk of transferring the COVID-19 virus from one person to another. Researches argue that objects, including polymer banknotes, can remain infectious from anywhere between 6 and 24 hours, depending on the temperature and humidity. If a person is infected,...

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CommBank extends repayment deferrals for business loans

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our partner Commonwealth Bank automatically deferred repayments on eligible BetterBusiness Loans and Equipment...

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our partner Commonwealth Bank automatically deferred repayments on eligible BetterBusiness Loans and Equipment Loans (Chattel Mortgage) for qualifying customers with total commercial lending limits with CommBank of up to $5 million. Despite the worst being over and the curve being flattened, many businesses are...

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Changes to paid parental leave scheme

On 11 June 2020 the Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Flexibility Measures) Bill 2020 passed both houses of Federal Parliament. The...

On 11 June 2020 the Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Flexibility Measures) Bill 2020 passed both houses of Federal Parliament. The Bill received Royal Assent on 16 June 2020, and its changes will take effect from 1 July 2020. What is changing? Designed to improve women’s workforce participation, the Bill changes the paid...

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Retail industry expertise will be crucial for Morrison Government’s Award Simplification Working Group

The National Retail Association will bring crucial inside knowledge of the workings of the retail sector with its appointment...

The National Retail Association will bring crucial inside knowledge of the workings of the retail sector with its appointment as a primary member of the Morrison Government’s Award Simplification Working Group. NRA Chief Executive Officer Dominique Lamb said the high number of prominent payroll failures in the sector in recent...

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SafeCity Network Brisbane – Retail Crime during COVID-19 recovery

The following trends in retail crime have been witnessed by Brisbane retailers over the past few weeks, as relayed...

The following trends in retail crime have been witnessed by Brisbane retailers over the past few weeks, as relayed across the National Retail Association's SafeCity Network. Rise in crime on George St and Adelaide St Retailers have reported an increase in aggression, loitering and theft by people who appear to be...

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Instant asset write off extension announced by Morrison Government

Small business welcome the Treasurer's announcement that the $150,000 instant asset write-off will be extended for six months to...

Small business welcome the Treasurer's announcement that the $150,000 instant asset write-off will be extended for six months to 31 December 2020. Australian businesses with annual turnover of less than $500 million will be able to take advantage of this extended time frame to invest in assets to support their...

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No hibernation for the Fair Work Ombudsman: Record penalties secured for wage non-compliance

By Andrew Piper and Lindsay Carroll, NRA Legal The pandemic hasn’t hindered the Fair Work Ombudsman’s (the FWO) efforts...

By Andrew Piper and Lindsay Carroll, NRA Legal The pandemic hasn’t hindered the Fair Work Ombudsman’s (the FWO) efforts to investigate and prosecute wage non-compliance in the retail and fast food sectors. The FWO has recently secured record penalties against companies that have underpaid their workers and failed to...

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Message from the CEO: 9 June 2020

Retail turnover dropped by an unprecedented 17.7 per cent in April, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)....

Retail turnover dropped by an unprecedented 17.7 per cent in April, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Although we were already well aware of the economic impact of COVID-19, these figures quantify the full extent of the hit that retail has endured thus far. This came one day...

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