Have your say: NSW Plastics Plan 2025-2030

New NSW Plastics Paper open for industry feedback now NSW EPA published an exploratory paper with a consultation and submission...

New NSW Plastics Paper open for industry feedback now NSW EPA published an exploratory paper with a consultation and submission period early this year. National Retail provided an extensive submission and attended consultation workshops outlining industry's roadmap for single-use plastics and our recommended strategies to develop a truly circular economy...

Read More

NSW Plastics Ban important updates and webinar

Businesses are encouraged to ensure they will be compliant with the NSW Plastics Ban as previous exemptions end soon. The...

Businesses are encouraged to ensure they will be compliant with the NSW Plastics Ban as previous exemptions end soon. The NSW Plastic Ban came into effect in two stages during 2022. The ban included a range of items, such as single-use plastic straws, cutlery, plates, unlidded bowls and lightweight plastic...

Read More

Retailers support NSW single-use plastics ban

The National Retail Association (NRA) has commended the New South Wales Government for passing legislation today to ban certain...

The National Retail Association (NRA) has commended the New South Wales Government for passing legislation today to ban certain single-use plastic items, starting with lightweight plastic shopping bags in June 2022. A second stage will follow with single-use plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery, bowls and plates, as well as expanded...

Read More

Dine & Discover NSW extended to boost hospitality businesses

Customers will have more reasons to celebrate catching up with friends and family this summer with two additional Dine...

Customers will have more reasons to celebrate catching up with friends and family this summer with two additional Dine & Discover vouchers up for grabs for NSW residents. The NSW Dine & Discover program has been extended until 30 June 2022 with two additional vouchers expected to be available in...

Read More

Four $25 vouchers for NSW residents through Dine & Discover

The NSW Dine & Discover program has now launched allowing all NSW residents aged 18 and over to apply for...

The NSW Dine & Discover program has now launched allowing all NSW residents aged 18 and over to apply for four $25 vouchers, worth $100 in total, to spend in participating businesses. The vouchers will be divided into two categories: Two $25 vouchers to be used for eating in at restaurants,...

Read More

New state regulations for QR code contract tracing – what retailers need to know

Over the past few weeks, many State Governments have made contact tracing mandatory and introduced enhanced QR Code contact tracing measures to make the process more efficient...

Over the past few weeks, many State Governments have made contact tracing mandatory and introduced enhanced QR Code contact tracing measures to make the process more efficient and help stop the spread of COVID 19.    QR codes operate like barcodes and are read using smartphone cameras. If a patron does not have a smartphone, or chooses not to use a QR code to check-in, businesses must maintain a manual contact register,...

Read More

NRA applauds NSW 24-hour supermarket trading, urges other states to follow

The National Retail Association (NRA) has applauded the move by the New South Wales Government to provide supermarkets with the opportunity to trade...

The National Retail Association (NRA) has applauded the move by the New South Wales Government to provide supermarkets with the opportunity to trade 24-hours a day, seven days a week and urged other states to follow suit. Overnight Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes announced an immediate lifting of restrictions on what hours...

Read More

Retailers calling on NSW government to ban the bag

Each Australian state or territory has either passed, or are in the process of passing, legislation that eradicates single-use...

Each Australian state or territory has either passed, or are in the process of passing, legislation that eradicates single-use plastic bags across the entire retail grid, with the exception of New South Wales (NSW). Should NSW emulate the steps taken in other states, it will bring all retailers throughout Australia...

Read More

NSW gift card reforms kick in March 31 – what else do you need to know?

The NRA recently participated in a stakeholder session with the NSW Government, to clarify some of the ‘grey areas’...

The NRA recently participated in a stakeholder session with the NSW Government, to clarify some of the ‘grey areas’ of the new legislation regarding the three-year minimum expiry dates on gift cards, which takes effect on March 31. Some of the issues raised are answered below, however, please treat this...

Read More

Message from the CEO: 7 November 2017

Two weeks ago I wrote to you about the New South Wales Government’s reforms to gift cards, extending the...

Two weeks ago I wrote to you about the New South Wales Government’s reforms to gift cards, extending the minimum validity period to three years. As I said at the time, the NRA was not supportive of the changes, but we understood the government’s motivation in terms of protecting...

Read More

Message from the CEO: 15 August 2017

Last week the New South Wales State Government announced that retailers across the state will be able to open...

Last week the New South Wales State Government announced that retailers across the state will be able to open their doors to trade on Boxing Day. An independent review of the two-year trial that took place in 2015 and 2016 recommended the change and we are pleased that the government...

Read More

Message from the CEO: 11 April 2017

What a heartbreaking fortnight it has been for so many of you on the east coast of Australia. We...

What a heartbreaking fortnight it has been for so many of you on the east coast of Australia. We have seen family homes, local schools, roads and local businesses decimated in many communities throughout Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. We want to iterate that we are here to assist...

Read More

Policy Update: Plastic bag ban in NSW

The New South Wales Parliament is currently considering a Bill to prohibit retailers from supplying certain types of plastic...

The New South Wales Parliament is currently considering a Bill to prohibit retailers from supplying certain types of plastic bags to their customers. If passed, the new law will prevent retailers from supplying plastic bags to customers to carry goods bought, or to be bought, from the retailer that are...

Read More

Message from the CEO: 24 October 2016

Retailers have reason to be hopeful of a very Merry Christmas in 2016, following the release of the Commonwealth...

Retailers have reason to be hopeful of a very Merry Christmas in 2016, following the release of the Commonwealth Bank Business Sales Index (BSI) for September. The BSI – released late last week – was jam-packed with good news for retailers on the consumer spending front and this should act...

Read More

IR Update: Damages of $100,000-plus awarded to employee after unfairly dismissed for “set-up” misconduct

A director at ANZ has been awarded $110,000 in damages for being unfairly dismissed for serious misconduct. The Bank...

A director at ANZ has been awarded $110,000 in damages for being unfairly dismissed for serious misconduct. The Bank alleged Mr Bartlett had amended a confidential internal email and mailed it to a journalist at the Australian Financial Review. Mr Bartlett’s claim was previously dismissed by Justice Adamson in a...

Read More