Earlier today, the ARA voiced its disappointment on the decision of the NSW Government to ban trading for larger retailers on ANZAC Day – noting that the current approach strikes the right balance between respectful commemoration and consumer choice. You can read more about that position below.
Supermarket divestiture also continues to be a hotly contested topic in the media, following the Opposition’s announcement that it will seek to introduce powers to breakup large retailers. We are standing firm in our position that divestiture would damage Australia’s retail sector and leave consumer worse-off, with devastating impacts on the nation’s economy.
These changes will place greater restrictions on retailers at a time when we need to eliminate barriers to growth and provide certainty.
That is what we are trying to achieve with our application to vary the General Retail Industry Award (GRIA), which notched up another few important wins late last week.
After much advocacy from the ARA, we welcomed the Fair Work Commission’s (FWC) announcement that it will adopt our proposals to improve the GRIA, by providing greater clarity on overtime provisions and more flexibility on rostering arrangements. These outcomes could not have been achieved without construction collaboration with the SDA, and other employer groups including the NRA and Ai Group.
Retail crime and assaults against retail workers also continue to escalate across the country, particularly in Victoria in recent months. The ARA has been in conversations with police and law enforcement about this concerning escalation, ahead of next week’s ARA x NRA Retail Crime Symposium 2024.
It’s not too late to register but time is running out, with ticket sales closing at 5.00pm AEST this Friday 12 July. We hope you’ll join us at this pivotal forum as we bring together leaders across loss prevention, security, industry affairs, work health and safety and cyber security. The full agenda is available at this link.
The circular economy is also an emerging issue for the retail sector, driven by changing customer habits and business opportunities. At our ARA Sustainability and Innovation Breakfast in Melbourne next month, we bring together some of the best minds in the business to showcase the latest sustainable business practices. Last year’s event sold out fast – make sure you secure your spot today.
And finally, this week is NAIDOC Week, an important opportunity to reflect on the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. In-line with the ARA’s commitment to reconciliation, we have developed an online library of resources at retail.org.au/reconciliation which outlines the opportunities and obligations for retailers in this important week.
