Over the last week, several significant developments have taken place, and we remain dedicated to assisting retailers understand critical regulatory and legislative changes.
Yesterday, the Albanese Labor Government introduced the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Bill 2023 in the Federal Parliament which will significantly amend the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth). Here at the National Retail Association, we’ll be analysing this bill thoroughly, and rest assured, we’re in touch with the Federal Government, to make sure our members’ voices are heard. You can view information about this critical legislative change here.
On the topic of recent changes, as of 1 September, QLD, SA, and WA have enforced new single-use plastics bans. The National Retail Association has been working diligently to get retailers and suppliers up to speed on these new rules, connecting with over 100,000 retailers, suppliers, peak bodies, and stakeholders across Australia, and providing them with resources and support to help them adapt. To read more about the ban, head to the link here. To register for a free, online information session, register here.
In some exciting news, if you’ve been thinking about tossing your hat in the ring for our National Retail Awards, we’re giving you an extra week to get those nominations in. Now you’ve got until Friday, 8 September to nominate a deserving business and/or individual in the industry, after that, it’s time for the judges to commence the evaluation process. Nominations are completely free for everyone, and finalists score a free ticket to the awards gala. Nominate before it’s too late here.
As a reminder, NRA Legal will be holding a significant, and insightful webinar on sexual harassment in Australian workplaces. Join our workplace relations experts for a 2-hour online masterclass on Thursday, 9 November where they will cover the legislation around workplace sexual harassment and how you can proactively prevent incidents in your workplace. Secure your ticket here.
On a serious note, we are taking feedback from the retail and business community on board. Last week, the Australian Bureau of Statistics released data demonstrating that Australian business closures are at their worst rate in 15 years. I spoke to ABC about the need to support businesses, they are at the heart of our community, with SMEs contributing more than 51 percent of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP). You can read the interview here, and importantly, reach out to my team on 1800 RETAIL (738 245) if there is anything you need assistance with.
Have a fantastic week ahead.