Policy & Advocacy News

Interim CEO Lindsay Carroll Measures contained in the recent Federal Budget, although generous in some areas, reflects a significant disconnect with the challenges small retailers are currently facing. The $41.7 million over four years for supporting small businesses is a positive step but falls short of addressing the broader issues...

Retail Trade trend estimate decreased by 0.0 per cent in March 2024 and increased 1.1 per cent year-on-year The latest release (March 2024) of the monthly ABS Retail Trade data indicates that the overall month-on-month (m-o-m) trend estimate decreased by 0.0 per cent, equal to (a revised) 0.0 per cent...

The National Retail Association has updated our Easter and Anzac Day Public holidays and Non-Exempt Trading Hour Restrictions factsheet. The National Retail Association recognises Anzac Day as an important national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that commemorates all who served and died in all wars, conflicts and...

National Retail Association's Co-CEO, Rob Godwin, was privileged to attend the official unveiling of Australia's largest logistics electric vehicle fleet trial hosted by Team Global Express. Esteemed guests, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Minister Chris Bowen, Darren Miller from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), and CEO Christine Holgate,...

Foodbank Australia announced that it sourced a record 51 million kilograms of food and groceries in 2023, equivalent to 92 million meals. This comes at a crucial time when the cost-of-living crisis has significantly increased the demand for food relief across the nation. The Foodbank Hunger Report 2023 illustrates a...

In the past few months, the National Retail team have delivered a dedicated website, a suite of resources, online information sessions, engaged with suppliers, contacted peak industry bodies, and answered hundreds of business calls on the Stage 2 Plastic bans. Our team has hit the streets visiting thousands of retailers...

The Albanese Labor Government has established a Competition Taskforce located in the Commonwealth Treasury, staffed by a team of competition experts and advised by an expert advisory panel, the taskforce's role is to produce practical policies that will boost competition and help fuel innovation and wage growth. According to the...

Update on New Zealand Kerbside Standardisation As of 1 February, ARL users should refer to the NZ kerbside implementation guide for the ARL program when conducting PREP assessments for projects in the NZ region. This document is intended to highlight the areas of difference and similarity between PREP assessments and...

The Packaging Forum's Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) program is undergoing significant updates in response to the New Zealand Ministry for Environment's Gazette notice and associated standards for kerbside recycling. The changes, effective from February 1, 2024, aim to standardize materials collected and excluded via household kerbside recycling. The ARL...