Back to Work and $20,000 Youth Boost expanding to South East QLD

QUEENSLAND The Queensland State Government Budget today announced an extra $77.5 million for an expanded Back to Work jobs program,...

QUEENSLAND The Queensland State Government Budget today announced an extra $77.5 million for an expanded Back to Work jobs program, which will now include South East Queensland from 1 July. Employment and Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace said there was an extra $27.5 million in the Budget to provide similar support...

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Retailers work alongside State Government on plastic bag ban roll-out as Bill goes to Parliament

QUEENSLAND The National Retail Association has partnered with the Palaszczuk Government to guide Queensland retailers through the State’s impending ban...

QUEENSLAND The National Retail Association has partnered with the Palaszczuk Government to guide Queensland retailers through the State’s impending ban on single-use plastic shopping bags, as legislation is introduced to Parliament today. Chief Executive Dominique Lamb said the NRA was preparing to launch a campaign to raise awareness across the sector...

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Message from the CEO: 13 June 2017

We’re never really not shopping, we’re just doing it differently. Take the mid-season sales for example, which have been in full swing...

We’re never really not shopping, we’re just doing it differently. Take the mid-season sales for example, which have been in full swing around the country. Consumer outcomes are maximised during retail events like the seasonal sales, which play an integral role in retailers’ overall marketing strategies. Usually, consumers will shop around their lifestyles, but...

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VW Bill to go before Parliament

The Government has announced that it intends to bring the Vulnerable Workers Bill (the Bill) before Parliament in the...

The Government has announced that it intends to bring the Vulnerable Workers Bill (the Bill) before Parliament in the final sitting of the financial year before going on its winter break. The Bill was passed by the House of Representatives on 11 May 2017. It is now pending approval by...

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Protect your business with food safety training

Keep your staff, customers and business safe with online Food Safety accreditation If your business serves food in some way,...

Keep your staff, customers and business safe with online Food Safety accreditation If your business serves food in some way, you may have experienced one of ‘those’ moments – a serious burn from the hot fryer, potential illness from incorrectly handled food, or another worrying issue like cross contamination between...

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Email misconduct dismissal upheld

by Sid Sidhu and Troy Wild, NRA Legal Georgia Sologinkin v Cosmetic Suppliers Pty Ltd T/A Coty FWC 1838 An...

by Sid Sidhu and Troy Wild, NRA Legal Georgia Sologinkin v Cosmetic Suppliers Pty Ltd T/A Coty FWC 1838 An employee who made highly offensive comments about numerous clients of the company was found to have been fairly dismissed by the Fair Work Commission (FWC), earlier last month. The accounts manager,...

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Wages set to increase 3.3 per cent

EMPLOYERS LAUNCH ADVERTISING BLITZ AGAINST FWC WAGE DECISION Not really. In fact, the National Retail Association fully accepts the decision of...

EMPLOYERS LAUNCH ADVERTISING BLITZ AGAINST FWC WAGE DECISION Not really. In fact, the National Retail Association fully accepts the decision of the Fair Work Commission in relation to today’s 3.3 per cent increase in the minimum wage and Modern Awards, and respects the authority of the independent umpire to make the...

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Message from the CEO: 6 June 2017

The Fair Work Commission has made two important decisions affecting retailers in the last 24 hours, and it’s worth...

The Fair Work Commission has made two important decisions affecting retailers in the last 24 hours, and it’s worth considering how commentators and elected officials respond to each one. The first issue, yesterday, was the Commission’s announcement on the timing of the adjustment of Sunday penalty rates. Your feedback to...

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Employers launch advertising blitz against FWC wage decision

Small business owners will be worse off Retailers demand Parliament override Commission decision Marginal seats campaign to target...

Small business owners will be worse off Retailers demand Parliament override Commission decision Marginal seats campaign to target MPS who accept Commission verdict Not really. In fact, the National Retail Association fully accepts the decision of the Fair Work Commission in relation to today’s 3.3 per cent increase in the...

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Proposed Changes to VIC Workplace Health and Safety Laws

by Sid Sidhu and Troy Wild,  NRA Legal A new Bill, introduced to Victorian Parliament earlier this month, proposes to...

by Sid Sidhu and Troy Wild,  NRA Legal A new Bill, introduced to Victorian Parliament earlier this month, proposes to amend the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic) (‘the Act’) as well as some other legislation, including the Dangerous Goods Act 1985 (Vic). If passed, the new changes may...

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Decision on penalty rate transition period handed down

In February the Fair Work Commission announced its decision to reduce Sunday penalty rates in the Hospitality, Fast Food,...

In February the Fair Work Commission announced its decision to reduce Sunday penalty rates in the Hospitality, Fast Food, Retail and Pharmacy awards. At 2pm today the Commission handed down its decision on how these changes will be implemented. Fast Food Industry Award 2010  Only Level 1 employees are affected by the...

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April Figures Show Marginal Growth for Retail Trade

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) retail trade figures for April 2017 released today show minimal growth from March,...

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) retail trade figures for April 2017 released today show minimal growth from March, indicating that the retail industry is still amidst trying times. According to the ABS, retail turnover rose 1.0 per cent during April following a fall of 0.2 per cent in March...

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Recognising Australia’s diverse retail leaders

The National Retail Association (NRA) has launched its new-look annual awards program, with a strong focus on inclusion and...

The National Retail Association (NRA) has launched its new-look annual awards program, with a strong focus on inclusion and celebrating diversity, recognising not only retail businesses, but the people behind them. The 2017 awards will recognise people and businesses at all levels of the industry – from fast food franchisees...

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Message from the CEO: 30 May 2017

Consumers are the driving force behind all retail business. They shop around their lives, not the other way around, so...

Consumers are the driving force behind all retail business. They shop around their lives, not the other way around, so we need to be able to offer them choice, convenience and value. If we don’t, they’ll simply find someone else who does. We are the forefront of digital disruption, and trading...

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Unfair dismissal case actually “genuine redundancy”

by Sid Sidhu and Troy Wild, NRA legal Case study: Laura Wrzoskiewicz v Easy Payroll Perth Pty Ltd FWC...

by Sid Sidhu and Troy Wild, NRA legal Case study: Laura Wrzoskiewicz v Easy Payroll Perth Pty Ltd FWC 2469 A recent case before the Fair Work Commission highlights the meaning of “genuine redundancy” and when an employee will be unable to substantiate an unfair dismissal claim. In this case, a...

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Putting leadership learning into practice

While hard skills and technical know-how are important, the difficulty is often finding someone who has those skills and...

While hard skills and technical know-how are important, the difficulty is often finding someone who has those skills and the leadership skills needed to develop an effective and efficient team. Many of our members are asking for the NRA Training Team to deliver one or two day workshops focusing on...

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