$7,000 per quarter subsidy opportunities extended

In October 2020, it was announced that the Morrison Government would invest an additional $1.2 billion to support Australian...

In October 2020, it was announced that the Morrison Government would invest an additional $1.2 billion to support Australian businesses to employ 100,000 new apprentices or trainees, as part of their COVID-19 economic recovery plan. These 100,000 new apprenticeship positions have been successfully filled by businesses across Australia in less...

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Message from the CEO | 9 March 2021

There has been promising economic news in recent days, as Australia seeks to rebound from the COVID recession. The...

There has been promising economic news in recent days, as Australia seeks to rebound from the COVID recession. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has revealed that the economy grew by a substantial 3.1 per cent in the December quarter. To put that into context, it’s the first time...

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Solid start to New Year for retail

Australian retail has made a solid start to the New Year according to the January trade report released today...

Australian retail has made a solid start to the New Year according to the January trade report released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Nationwide turnover rose by 0.5 per cent for the month, while January spending rose by 10.6 per cent compared to January 2020. NRA CEO Dominique...

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Call for Queensland businesses to help shape future of retail

In July 2019, the Queensland Government launched the Skills for Queensland – Great training for quality jobs strategy. The...

In July 2019, the Queensland Government launched the Skills for Queensland – Great training for quality jobs strategy. The goal of that strategy is to create a workforce that has the skills to ‘meet the current and future needs of the labour market right across the state’. This is an enormously...

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Retailers welcome appointment of new Small Business Ombudsman

The National Retail Association has welcomed the appointment of former Small Business Minister Bruce Billson as the new Australian...

The National Retail Association has welcomed the appointment of former Small Business Minister Bruce Billson as the new Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman. Small Business Ombudsman NRA CEO Dominique Lamb said the association looks forward to working with Mr Billson and acknowledged the work of outgoing Ombudsman Kate...

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Message from the CEO | 2 March 2021

Industrial relations reform continues to be a focal topic at a federal level, in particular proposals around reforms to...

Industrial relations reform continues to be a focal topic at a federal level, in particular proposals around reforms to part-time employment. It has been revealed that several union and other organisations have proposed a compromise measure to enable part-time retail workers to take on more hours without overtime. As the...

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Ban on animal testing in new cosmetic ingredients explained

The National Retail Association, in partnership with the Australian Government, has developed and launched a nationwide education program to...

The National Retail Association, in partnership with the Australian Government, has developed and launched a nationwide education program to increase understanding of the ban on animal testing in new cosmetic ingredients which came into effect July 2020. The NRA's program includes: a dedicated website explaining the ban downloadable factsheets and...

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NRA representing retail in rollout of revolutionary National Location Registry

The National Retail Association (NRA) has continued to provide support for the retail industry by joining the Steering Committee...

The National Retail Association (NRA) has continued to provide support for the retail industry by joining the Steering Committee of the soon-to-be released National Location Registry. The NRA’s presence on this Committee will see the peak industry body working to streamline Australian freight and delivery processes with a new...

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Part time flexibility application will reduce employment

An ACTU and COSBOA flexible part-time employment proposal for the General Retail Award is poorly drafted, will add more...

An ACTU and COSBOA flexible part-time employment proposal for the General Retail Award is poorly drafted, will add more red tape and risks exposing business operators, including small businesses, to costly disputes and the perils of ‘go away’ money. The joint Union/COSBOA application to vary the General Retail Award largely...

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Queensland retailers finally get COVID-19 tracing app

A new, free, check-in app which makes it much easier for Queensland’s hospitality businesses and their customers to stay...

A new, free, check-in app which makes it much easier for Queensland’s hospitality businesses and their customers to stay COVID safe rolls out state-wide from today. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Check In Qld app has been extensively trialled over the last few weeks and has come out tops. “It simplifies...

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Retailers support Victorian Plastics Policy

The National Retail Association (NRA) commends the Andrews’ Government for its announcement today outlining its plan to introduce a...

The National Retail Association (NRA) commends the Andrews’ Government for its announcement today outlining its plan to introduce a ban on single-use plastic straws, cutlery, stirrers and plates, as well as expanded polystyrene foodware. David Stout, Director of Policy with the National Retail Association said that retailers were supportive of...

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Message from the CEO | 23 February 2021

Last week I talked to you about the success of our Protecting Crowded Places program, which delivered in-person training...

Last week I talked to you about the success of our Protecting Crowded Places program, which delivered in-person training for 48,000 retail workers in responding to an armed assailant.  We were able to provide this program with financial support from the Federal Government. Since then, we have seen news coverage...

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Get ready: 1 week to go for SA Single-Use Plastic Ban

We're one week away from the start of the South Australian Single-Use Plastics Ban. From March 1 2021, single-use plastic...

We're one week away from the start of the South Australian Single-Use Plastics Ban. From March 1 2021, single-use plastic straws, cutlery and stirrers will be prohibited from sale, supply or distribution in South Australia. We emphasize that plant-based or 'bioplastics' plastics, such as PLA, PHA and similar, are included in...

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Support for Victorian businesses impacted by “Circuit Breaker” action

New support has been announced for small businesses, including sole traders, most impacted by the coronavirus circuit-breaker action over...

New support has been announced for small businesses, including sole traders, most impacted by the coronavirus circuit-breaker action over the Valentine's Day weekend – with hospitality, tourism, events and creative industries operators to benefit from grants. The $143 million Circuit Breaker Support Package is expected to help more than 50,000...

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Changes to Single Touch Payroll reporting from 1 July 2021

Employers should be reporting through Single Touch Payroll (STP) unless they only have closely held payees, or they are...

Employers should be reporting through Single Touch Payroll (STP) unless they only have closely held payees, or they are covered by a deferral or exemption. There are changes to STP reporting for small employers with closely held payees and quarterly reporting for micro employers from 1 July 2021. This...

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Promising start to 2021 for retail

Retail has made a promising start to 2021 according to the preliminary report for January released today by the...

Retail has made a promising start to 2021 according to the preliminary report for January released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Nationwide turnover rose by a solid 0.6 per cent for the month, while January spending rose by 10.7 per cent compared to January 2020. NRA CEO Dominique...

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