Retailers back tough new penalties to combat assault on Victorian workers

The National Retail Association (NRA) has welcomed the Victorian Government’s move to implement tough new penalties for people who...

The National Retail Association (NRA) has welcomed the Victorian Government’s move to implement tough new penalties for people who assault retail workers. The new laws will bring Victoria into line with other state and territories on the issue with a Bill to Parliament to be introduced in 2025. NRA Director of...

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Police and retailers collaborate to combat knife crime

The National Retail Association has officially partnered with the Queensland Police Service to educate retailers on new legislation which...

The National Retail Association has officially partnered with the Queensland Police Service to educate retailers on new legislation which will see knives and other controlled items prohibited from sale to minors, as well as requirements for secure storage of particular items prior to sale. The new laws are part of...

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SCCA Research: Retail Trade Analysis – March 2024

Retail Trade trend estimate decreased by 0.0 per cent in March 2024 and increased 1.1 per cent year-on-year The latest...

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...

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Updated Guidelines for Anzac Day Trading

The National Retail Association has updated our Easter and Anzac Day Public holidays and Non-Exempt Trading Hour Restrictions factsheet. The...

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...

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Australia’s largest logistics electric vehicle fleet trial

National Retail Association's Co-CEO, Rob Godwin, was privileged to attend the official unveiling of Australia's largest logistics electric vehicle...

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,...

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Why don’t we talk about the cost-of-trading crisis?

Deputy CEO Lindsay Carroll Entering the new year, cost-of-living has been making headlines across Australia, in our households and within...

Deputy CEO Lindsay Carroll Entering the new year, cost-of-living has been making headlines across Australia, in our households and within the halls of power alike. Every policymaker in the country, from parliamentarians to the Reserve Bank, seem to be throwing every tool in their war chest at the elusive issue....

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Foodbank records high volumes amid surging demand for food relief

Foodbank Australia announced that it sourced a record 51 million kilograms of food and groceries in 2023, equivalent to...

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...

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Western Australia single-use plastic ban update

In the past few months, the National Retail team have delivered a dedicated website, a suite of resources, online...

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...

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Introduction of a Designated Complaints Function Within the ACCC

The Albanese Labor Government has established a Competition Taskforce located in the Commonwealth Treasury, staffed by a team of...

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...

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ARL Program Updates

Update on New Zealand Kerbside Standardisation As of 1 February, ARL users should refer to the NZ kerbside implementation guide...

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...

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APCO Reporting Tool 2024: A Guide for Efficient Annual Reporting

The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) has officially opened its Reporting Tool for the year 2024, signaling the commencement...

The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) has officially opened its Reporting Tool for the year 2024, signaling the commencement of the annual reporting process for its members. In this announcement, APCO expresses gratitude for the patience of its members and outlines essential details on accessing the tool, resources available,...

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Changes to Packaging Recycling Standards in New Zealand: PREP Updates and Guidance

The Packaging Forum's Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) program is undergoing significant updates in response to the New Zealand Ministry...

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...

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Changes coming for seafood country of origin labelling for hospitality businesses

In late November 2023, the Australian Government announced new rules around seafood Country of Origin Labelling for hospitality businesses. Consumer...

In late November 2023, the Australian Government announced new rules around seafood Country of Origin Labelling for hospitality businesses. Consumer ministers voted to introduce the AIM model which will require business to show if seafood for sale is either: Australian (A) Imported (I) Mixed origin (M), if a dish includes...

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Regulations to ban additional plastic products in SA

South Australia is committed to phasing out additional single-use and other plastic products over a 3-year period. The first stage...

South Australia is committed to phasing out additional single-use and other plastic products over a 3-year period. The first stage of these bans commenced on 1 September 2023, and included plastic pizza savers, plastic-stemmed cotton buds, single-use plastic bowls without lids for food and beverages, and single-use plastic plates for...

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The ARL consumer insights report

Recycling is still seen as the most impactful everyday behaviour consumers can do to help the environment. The Australian...

Recycling is still seen as the most impactful everyday behaviour consumers can do to help the environment. The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) has released the ARL Consumer Insights Report, and in fantastic news, awareness of the label continues to grow, and three-quarters of consumers are asking to see...

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Dr Geoffrey Annison on the establishment of a federal Anti-Modern Slavery Commissioner

On 3 November 2023, the Federal Government introduced the Modern Slavery Amendment (Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner) Bill 2023 into Parliament...

On 3 November 2023, the Federal Government introduced the Modern Slavery Amendment (Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner) Bill 2023 into Parliament establishing Australia’s first federal Anti-Modern Slavery Commissioner. This milestone event was, of course, expected as it was part of the Government’s policy platform going into the 2022 federal election, and...

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