COVID-19 Update | 27 September 2020

Victoria announces restrictions to ease from tonight in metropolitan Melbourne Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has announced that from 11:59pm tonight,...

Victoria announces restrictions to ease from tonight in metropolitan Melbourne Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has announced that from 11:59pm tonight, metropolitan Melbourne will be taking the second step on the Roadmap to Recovery. The National Retail Association welcomes further steps towards reopening, in particular noting that partial return to work...

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Chemist monopoly vaping “solution” already unravelling

The proposed monopoly for chemists over the sale of smoke-free nicotine products is already unravelling, with both pharmacists and...

The proposed monopoly for chemists over the sale of smoke-free nicotine products is already unravelling, with both pharmacists and doctors raising concerns about the proposal. The National Retail Association has consistently called for small businesses who currently sell cigarettes and other nicotine products to be given access to less harmful...

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NBN to help small and medium retailers unleash full business capability

The National Retail Association (NRA) has today heralded NBN Co’s announcement to invest $700 million over three years to...

The National Retail Association (NRA) has today heralded NBN Co’s announcement to invest $700 million over three years to help small and medium retailers unleash their full business capability. Under the scheme unveiled on Tuesday, NBN will create up to 240 nbn Business Fibre Zones nationally that will provide access...

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Retailers blast “ridiculous and inconsistent” vaping decision

The National Retail Association (NRA) says today’s draft ruling to restrict the sale of vaping and smoke-free nicotine products...

The National Retail Association (NRA) says today’s draft ruling to restrict the sale of vaping and smoke-free nicotine products to chemists is “ridiculous and inconsistent”, considering cigarettes are sold freely. The TGA’s draft ruling captures “nicotine when prepared for use in e-cigarettes, e-juice heat-not-burn tobacco products, chewing tobacco, snuff and...

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COVID-19 Update | 22 September 2020

Queensland releases updated COVID Safe Industry plan for Retail, Hair and Beauty Today the Queensland Government has released an updated...

Queensland releases updated COVID Safe Industry plan for Retail, Hair and Beauty Today the Queensland Government has released an updated version of the COVID Safe Industry Plan. Under Public Health Directions businesses must have plans to show how they will maintain compliance with the Directions. You can find the updated...

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Chemist monopoly on vaping “worst of both worlds” for small business

The National Retail Association (NRA) has expressed its concern about a Federal Government proposal to hand pharmacies a monopoly...

The National Retail Association (NRA) has expressed its concern about a Federal Government proposal to hand pharmacies a monopoly over the sale of smoke-free nicotine products. NRA CEO Dominique Lamb said the proposal represented the “worst of both worlds” for small convenience retailers who currently rely on tobacco sales for...

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Two years on and industry is excelling in adopting the Australasian Recycling Label

A recent independent national audit by the Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR) found that after only two years, 23%...

A recent independent national audit by the Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR) found that after only two years, 23% of products on supermarket shelves contained the ARL. The National Retail Association commends industry for their ongoing efforts to implement the ARL program and celebrates these tremendous results. Brooke Donnelly, CEO,...

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Message from the CEO | 22 September 2020

To misquote the American author Mark Twain, reports of the death of retail have been greatly exaggerated. We know...

To misquote the American author Mark Twain, reports of the death of retail have been greatly exaggerated. We know many members are going through their toughest times ever, and sadly we know some retailers will be forced to exit the industry before the impact of COVID has passed.  But...

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Keeping customers engaged in the age of a pandemic

As personal interaction remains minimized, the time to optimize businesses’ online engagement is upon us. The unprecedented instantaneous economic challenges...

As personal interaction remains minimized, the time to optimize businesses’ online engagement is upon us. The unprecedented instantaneous economic challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on businesses on a global scale. To keep doors open, business owners across almost all sectors have no choice but to pivot,...

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Queensland criminalises “wage theft” despite employer concerns

The National Retail Association (NRA) is disappointed that the Queensland Government today passed its “wage theft” legislation despite the...

The National Retail Association (NRA) is disappointed that the Queensland Government today passed its “wage theft” legislation despite the concerns of business groups. Despite serious questions as to the whether the legislation can actually be enforced under the Constitution, the Queensland Police Service (QPS) and the State Director of Public...

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Retail industry fast adopting Australasian Recycling Label

The Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR) has released the results of an independent national audit of packaging environmental labelling...

The Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR) has released the results of an independent national audit of packaging environmental labelling in Australia. The independent audit found that across supermarkets, takeaway outlets, and convenience stores in two capital cities found after only two years in market; 88% of the packaging components sampled...

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COVID-19 Update | 6 September 2020

Victoria announces roadmap to reopening, retail to experience protracted wait time Premier Daniel Andrews today unveiled time frames to getting...

Victoria announces roadmap to reopening, retail to experience protracted wait time Premier Daniel Andrews today unveiled time frames to getting Victoria open again after the recent COVID-19 outbreak. Currently, Melbourne is in Stage 4 restrictions. From 11:59pm on 13 September, they will take the First Step towards COVID Normal. Regional Victoria,...

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Retail rises in July, but uncertainty ahead as Australia plunges into recession

There was a solid rise in retail sales in July, however the National Retail Association (NRA) has warned that...

There was a solid rise in retail sales in July, however the National Retail Association (NRA) has warned that the sector remains braced for an uncertain time ahead as Australia plunges into its first recession since 1991. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today released its retail sales report for...

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No exemptions declared by SA Treasurer for October Labour Day public holiday

Adelaide retailers should be aware that in the absence of any exemption declared by the Treasurer, trading hours for...

Adelaide retailers should be aware that in the absence of any exemption declared by the Treasurer, trading hours for non-exempt shops in South Australia for the Labour Day public holiday on Monday, 5 October 2020 are: Adelaide CBD – 11.00am to 5.00pm Adelaide suburbs & Millicent – CLOSED Country...

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SafeCity Network: Brisbane shopping centre experiencing major increase in crime

Retailers in a major inner-city Brisbane shopping centre are bearing the brunt of a recent community housing initiative moving...

Retailers in a major inner-city Brisbane shopping centre are bearing the brunt of a recent community housing initiative moving vulnerable people from a city residence to accommodation previously used as student housing. We understand that these residents are experiencing hardship and everyone is entitled to, and indeed deserves, safe housing....

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Parliament passes JobKeeper 2.0

This afternoon, Parliament passed the Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Jobkeeper Payments) Amendment Bill 2020 which gives effect to the...

This afternoon, Parliament passed the Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Jobkeeper Payments) Amendment Bill 2020 which gives effect to the previously announced extension of the JobKeeper Payment Scheme until 28 March 2021. To continue participating in the scheme after 27 September 2020, employers will need to meet revised eligibility requirements, and reassess...

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