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ARA to attend Rudd’s Small Business Summit TOMORROW - Retailers need relief from costly legislation

Peak retail industry body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) will attend the Small Business Summit in Brisbane tomorrow to discuss the global financial crisis and urge Prime Minister Rudd to offer retailers relief from the financial drain of new legislation.

ARA Executive Director Richard Evans, who will meet with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Treasurer Wayne Swan, Minister for Superannuation Nick Sherry and Minister for Small Business Craig Emerson, said he will be urging the Federal Government to delay pushing through new legislation that will burden retailers right across the country with added compliance costs.

"We are ready to listen to the Government's plans to reassure and support retailers who are suffering after months of stagnant and declining growth in one of the hardest economic times for the sector.

"We are very supportive of the Government's Economic Security Strategy and we are optimistic it will provide confidence to consumers and encourage them back into the retail market.

"Our message to the Government is to take stock of the legislation currently passing through parliament and give due consideration to deferring new laws that will burden retailers with added compliance costs in this period of economic crisis.

"During one of the hardest economic times for retailers, decision makers are continuing to push through legislation across the country - including unit pricing, plastic bag bans, emissions trading schemes, parental leave, award modernisation and tobacco control - and the Rudd Government now needs to consider business economic impacts upon this planned legislative program.

"We're simply urging decision makers to put the brakes on adding increased compliance costs to retailers for responding to consumer demand in what is a very stressful time for the sector.

"We will also be seeking more detail and clarification surrounding Rudd's $10.4 billion stimulus package but it's not enough right now for the Government to simply inject fundsinto the economy. Working families include retailers and they need support right now - not heinous increased compliance costs.

"Rudd's stimulus package is not cure - but it is therapy. Let's hope it's retail therapy," Evans said.

For over 104 years, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has been the peak industry body in Australia's $292 billion retail sector which employs over 1.2 million people. As an incorporated employer body under the Workplace Relations Act and with a range of member services including business consulting, policy development, advocacy and education, the ARA promotes and protects over 5000 independent and national retailers throughout Australia. Visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

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