Retailers welcome Victorian Government commitment to Workplace Protection Orders and worker assault legislation, but warn there’s no time to waste

The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and National Retail Association (NRA) welcome the Victorian Government’s commitment to Workplace Protection Orders...

The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and National Retail Association (NRA) welcome the Victorian Government’s commitment to Workplace Protection Orders (WPOs) and long-awaited new laws to strengthen penalties for assaults, abuse and harassment against retail workers — and urge the Government to act quickly to deliver real change.  ARA CEO Chris...

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Retailers commend Queensland Government’s forward-thinking commitment to small business safety

The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and National Retail Association (NRA) welcome the Queensland Government’s continued commitment to retail and...

The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and National Retail Association (NRA) welcome the Queensland Government’s continued commitment to retail and small business safety through Round 2 of the $40 million Secure Communities Partnership Program — a practical investment to help small and family-run retailers deter crime and protect their teams.  The Crisafulli Government’s...

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Retail spending steady ahead of critical Christmas trading period

Today’s Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data showing a 4.3% rise in retail spending over the past year reflects a solid...

Today’s Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data showing a 4.3% rise in retail spending over the past year reflects a solid foundation for retailers as they enter the vital pre-Christmas trading season the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and National Retail Association (NRA) said today. The Monthly Household Spending Indicator for September 2025 shows total...

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State in crisis: Victorians demand action on retail crime

Victorians are calling for action on retail crime with new research revealing 79% are concerned about the state’s rising crime...

Victorians are calling for action on retail crime with new research revealing 79% are concerned about the state’s rising crime levels.  With retail crime at crisis levels, the research supports calls by retailers and unions for the urgent introduction of Workplace Protection Orders, tougher laws and a dedicated retail crime police...

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South Australia’s landmark workplace protection laws a game-changer for retail worker safety

Retailers have applauded plans to introduce a new bill into South Australian Parliament to establish Workplace Protection Orders (WPOs),...

Retailers have applauded plans to introduce a new bill into South Australian Parliament to establish Workplace Protection Orders (WPOs), giving police and courts stronger powers to keep repeat offenders out of retail stores. Australian Retailers Association (ARA) CEO Chris Rodwell said the SA Government is setting the standard in leading...

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Abolishing junior wage rates will create higher youth unemployment

Abolishing junior wage rates would significantly reduce retail employment opportunities for young Australians, and many small businesses say it...

Abolishing junior wage rates would significantly reduce retail employment opportunities for young Australians, and many small businesses say it would force them to select more experienced workers, according to new research. The results come at a time when youth unemployment is rising and sits at more than double the...

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NSW Retail Crime Strategy strengthens protections for retail workers and customers

The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and National Retail Association (NRA) welcome the launch today of the New South Wales Police...

The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and National Retail Association (NRA) welcome the launch today of the New South Wales Police Force Retail Crime Strategy to tackle retail crime and keep communities safe across the state. Operation Percentile, a policing model targeting recidivist offending and high-harm retail offenders, is a key element of...

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Retailers warn excessive legislation a backward step for productivity

The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and National Retail Association (NRA) have cautioned that the Federal Government’s proposed supermarket pricing...

The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and National Retail Association (NRA) have cautioned that the Federal Government’s proposed supermarket pricing legislation risks tangling business in unnecessary red tape, running counter to the Federal Government’s commitment to improve productivity. ARA CEO Chris Rodwell said the best way to improve competition and put...

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Retailers welcome merger regime updates following industry advocacy

The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and National Retail Association (NRA) have welcomed the Federal Government’s refinements to Australia’s upcoming...

The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and National Retail Association (NRA) have welcomed the Federal Government’s refinements to Australia’s upcoming merger control regime, including an important exemption for routine retail leases and other low-risk transactions. The changes, announced today by Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury Dr Andrew Leigh...

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Risks to salaried employment across economy to flow from Federal Court decision

A Federal Court judgment regarding historical entitlements of salaried staff under the General Retail Industry Award (GRIA) will be...

A Federal Court judgment regarding historical entitlements of salaried staff under the General Retail Industry Award (GRIA) will be far-reaching and add further complexity and red tape to salaried employment across all industry sectors, Australia’s leading business groups said today. In a joint statement, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and...

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Modest August retail spending strengthens case for November rate cut

Spending in retail-related categories grew by a modest 3.7% in August compared to the same period in 2024, registering...

Spending in retail-related categories grew by a modest 3.7% in August compared to the same period in 2024, registering $37.8 billion in sales, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). This moderation in recent performance underlines the need for the RBA to stay vigilant in considering...

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RBA’s interest rate hold concerns retailers ahead of peak retail season

Retailers say they are concerned the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) decision today to hold the cash rate at...

Retailers say they are concerned the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) decision today to hold the cash rate at 3.6 per cent will suppress spending during the most important retail sales period of the year. The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and National Retail Association (NRA) said a pre-Christmas rate cut...

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Victorian retail crime crisis – up 20% to highest levels on record

New Victorian crime data confirms retail crime is at crisis levels, with retail stores a top target peak bodies the Australian...

New Victorian crime data confirms retail crime is at crisis levels, with retail stores a top target peak bodies the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and National Retail Association (NRA) said today. The Victoria Government’s Crime Statistics Agency’s (CSA) report for the year ending June 2025 showed recorded retail crime offences in Victoria rose...

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Retailers applaud Vic Opposition’s support for retail crime measures

The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and National Retail Association (NRA) have today welcomed the Victorian Opposition’s support for stronger...

The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and National Retail Association (NRA) have today welcomed the Victorian Opposition’s support for stronger retail crime initiatives, including the adoption of the knife protection measure Jack’s Law, which successfully works in Queensland. “Retail Crime is at a crisis point in Victoria. Unless we take active...

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Penalty Rates Bill slams the door on higher salaries, choice and flexibility

The passing of the Federal Government’s penalty rates bill undermines the independence of the Fair Work Commission and is...

The passing of the Federal Government’s penalty rates bill undermines the independence of the Fair Work Commission and is a missed opportunity to create greater choice and flexibility that would lift salaries and improve job security, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and National Retail Association (NRA) said today. ARA CEO...

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Australian retailers committed to safer workplaces

The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and National Retail Association (NRA) confirmed today that retailers across Australia are making major...

The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and National Retail Association (NRA) confirmed today that retailers across Australia are making major investments in creating safer workplaces in the face of significant industry challenges, especially in response to the surge in retail crime. Australian Retailers Association CEO, Chris Rodwell, reinforced that workplace wellbeing...

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