The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) said it respects the decision of the Federal Government to honour the passing of Queen Elizabeth II with a one-off public holiday and that it’s now up to the states and territories to clarify trading conditions for Thursday September 22.
“Many in our community, including retailers and their staff, will want to honour and mourn the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. We are confident retailers will abide respectfully by the government’s decision and in sympathy to the sensitivities of many of their customers,” said ARA CEO Paul Zahra.
“Nevertheless, this event will create some complications for businesses with store closures and staff scheduling challenges, with many rosters set up weeks in advance. There will also be a small but unexpected loss of trade, and additional staffing costs, which may impact cashflows for small businesses.
“Store opening and closing directions are typically established by the states and territories, and we look forward to their direction today so retailers can plan accordingly.”
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About us: The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is the oldest, largest and most diverse national retail body, representing a $400 billion sector that employs 1.3 million Australians and is the largest private sector employer in the country. As Australia’s peak retail body, representing more than 120,000 retail shop fronts and online stores, the ARA informs, advocates, educates, protects and unifies our independent, national and international retail community. To learn more about ARA’s exclusive member benefits and more, visit retail.org.au
