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Media releases
For media enquiries and interview opportunities, contact the ARC media team on media@retail.org.au or 0434 381 670
All ARC media releases
EOFY sales bolster June retail spending, but caution still in the cart
Retail spending in June grew by 4.9% compared to the same period last year, with the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) showing a spike in consumer
Retailers and their workers deserve greater choice and flexibility
The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and National Retail Association (NRA) say the Federal Government’s new penalty rates bill strips away an opportunity for choice and flexibility for retailers and their
Retailers call for urgent, national response to retail crime
In response to the alarming rise in retail crime across the country, retailers, government, police, unions and crime experts are coming together to help improve safety and crime outcomes for
Penalty rates Bill undermines choice, flexibility and remuneration for employees and employers
The Federal Government’s decision to introduce legislation that effectively forbids businesses and their employees from negotiating the incorporation of penalty rates into base salary further reflects that Australia’s industrial relations
Interest rates hold a let-down for retailers as headwinds persist
Retailers said today’s Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) decision to hold the cash rate at 3.85 per cent is a blow for consumer and business confidence and will undercut the
Fair Work Commission’s McDonald’s ruling confirms risk of overreach in supported bargaining framework
The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and the National Retail Association (NRA) are concerned by a recent decision of the Fair Work Commission (FWC) to issue a Supported Bargaining Authorisation covering
Fair Work Ombudsman response to small business definition a missed opportunity
The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) said today the effective non-review by the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) around the definition of a small business is a missed opportunity to support the
May retail spending shows 3.3% year-on-year growth
Australian retail performance held steady in May, with data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) showing consumer spending increased 3.3% year-on-year to $37.3 billion, compared to $36.1 billion in
Retailers support productivity focus by Albanese Government
The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and the National Retail Association (NRA) strongly support the focus of the Albanese Government on productivity in its second term. Responding to the Prime Minister,
Savvy shoppers target EOFY sales for big ticket spending
Australian shoppers are tipped to spend $10.5 billion on mid-year/end-of-financial-year (EOFY) sales – up $400 million or 3.9% from 2024 – as retailers showcase their mid-year promotions to entice cash-strapped
Industry leaders unite for productivity solutions to improve living standards
More than 20 groups representing Australia’s small, medium and large businesses, universities and the investment community met today in Sydney to discuss productivity solutions to improve living standards for all
Victorian retailers back urgent action to ban machetes
The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and National Retail Association (NRA) say the Victorian Government’s decision to ban the sale of machetes is an important response to the horrifying events at
ARC submissions
Given the important role that the retail sector plays in driving economic growth, we seek government policies that:
- Support the economic impact generated by the retail sector;
- Restore business confidence, particularly for small and medium businesses;
- Increase consumer confidence and disposable income;
- Apply downward pressure on business costs; and
- Reduce complexity by driving national alignment on state matters