Decision on penalty rate transition period handed down

In February the Fair Work Commission announced its decision to reduce Sunday penalty rates in the Hospitality, Fast Food,...

In February the Fair Work Commission announced its decision to reduce Sunday penalty rates in the Hospitality, Fast Food, Retail and Pharmacy awards. At 2pm today the Commission handed down its decision on how these changes will be implemented. Fast Food Industry Award 2010  Only Level 1 employees are affected by the...

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April Figures Show Marginal Growth for Retail Trade

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) retail trade figures for April 2017 released today show minimal growth from March,...

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) retail trade figures for April 2017 released today show minimal growth from March, indicating that the retail industry is still amidst trying times. According to the ABS, retail turnover rose 1.0 per cent during April following a fall of 0.2 per cent in March...

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Recognising Australia’s diverse retail leaders

The National Retail Association (NRA) has launched its new-look annual awards program, with a strong focus on inclusion and...

The National Retail Association (NRA) has launched its new-look annual awards program, with a strong focus on inclusion and celebrating diversity, recognising not only retail businesses, but the people behind them. The 2017 awards will recognise people and businesses at all levels of the industry – from fast food franchisees...

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Top 5 reasons to use an insurance broker

by Alain Sayour, Gow Gates Insurance Brokers We live in an age where many of our life and business transactions...

by Alain Sayour, Gow Gates Insurance Brokers We live in an age where many of our life and business transactions can be completed online. The ease in conducting these transactions at a time and place that suits us certainly has an appeal. However, is going online the best option when...

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Confidence lifts for third time in past month

Source: CommSec - Economic Insights According to Commsec, the ANZ/Roy Morgan consumer confidence rating rose by 1.0 per cent to 110.5 in...

Source: CommSec - Economic Insights According to Commsec, the ANZ/Roy Morgan consumer confidence rating rose by 1.0 per cent to 110.5 in the latest week – the third rise in the past four weeks. Confidence levels bounce around from week to week, but CommSec believes that broadly Aussie consumers are just feeling OK. "If...

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Commsec: Aussies spending on experiences

We’re going to the cinema, taking short breaks and focusing on holidays, with tourist destinations like Tasmania recording healthy...

We’re going to the cinema, taking short breaks and focusing on holidays, with tourist destinations like Tasmania recording healthy spending results despite lacklustre overall spending, according to the latest data from Commsec research. Craig James, Chief Economist at Commsec has reported that economy-wide spending has remained flat over April, with...

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Retailers back Queensland Government on red tape reduction

The National Retail Association today backed the Queensland Government’s call for Parliament to pass its sensible reforms to the...

The National Retail Association today backed the Queensland Government’s call for Parliament to pass its sensible reforms to the state’s retail trading laws. NRA Chief Executive Officer Dominique Lamb said business owners were tired of politicians paying lip service to cutting red tape, but failing to act when the opportunity...

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Woolworths reports strong food growth

Woolworths has reported strong sales momentum in the third quarter of 2016-17 with food sales up 5.1 per cent...

Woolworths has reported strong sales momentum in the third quarter of 2016-17 with food sales up 5.1 per cent to $9.3 billion with comparable sales growth of 4.5 per cent (Easter adjusted). During the same period, average prices declined by 2.5 per cent during the quarter, a similar rate of...

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Webinar: Are your franchise systems working for you?

The franchising sector has been the focus of a number of recent high-profile investigations around payroll and underpayment issues. In...

The franchising sector has been the focus of a number of recent high-profile investigations around payroll and underpayment issues. In response to this, the Federal Government introduced its Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Vulnerable Workers Bill) into the House of Representatives in March to crack down on future breaches. With these legislative...

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The power of the purse

Women make 85% of consumer purchase decisions and research shows women support brands which support gender equality. How can...

Women make 85% of consumer purchase decisions and research shows women support brands which support gender equality. How can your business access this Female Economy (or 'Femeconomy') purchasing power? In Australia alone during 2015-16 women spent $198.9 billion. Femeconomy is a social enterprise, role modelling Female Leadership and Entrepreneurship, and...

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HAVE YOUR SAY: Pay Protection Bill

The Fair Work (Pay Protection) Bill 2017 (Cth) makes several amendments to the Fair Work Act 2009 that, if...

The Fair Work (Pay Protection) Bill 2017 (Cth) makes several amendments to the Fair Work Act 2009 that, if passed, will have serious implications for employers using Enterprise Agreements approved after 1 January 2010. We are preparing a submission to the Fair Work Commission on the proposed changes. If you...

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More makeovers for department stores and shopping precincts

Source: Inside Retail More department stores and shopping centres are undergoing facelifts to meet contemporary trends and demand. BRISBANE: Property investor, Precision...

Source: Inside Retail More department stores and shopping centres are undergoing facelifts to meet contemporary trends and demand. BRISBANE: Property investor, Precision Group, has begun a major redevelopment of MacArthur Central Shopping Centre in Brisbane’s CBD. The redevelopment includes the relocation and expansion of jewellery house, Hardy Brothers, from Queen Street which...

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Single Touch Payroll: important information for employers

The Budget Savings (Omnibus) Bill 2016 received Royal Assent in September 2016 and the changes will streamline the way...

The Budget Savings (Omnibus) Bill 2016 received Royal Assent in September 2016 and the changes will streamline the way employers report some tax and superannuation information to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). When employers pay their staff, the employees’ salary or wages and PAYG withholding amounts will be automatically reported...

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Are you adequately insured?

Free insurance program review for NRA members Whether you’re a small business or a large group of companies, it’s important...

Free insurance program review for NRA members Whether you’re a small business or a large group of companies, it’s important to review your business insurance from time to time. Changes that occur in your business can leave you underinsured or open to new risks, and there is always the chance...

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HeadCoach tackles mental health in the workplace

The prevalence of depression and anxiety among Australians is high and often goes unrecognised, despite the substantial labour cost...

The prevalence of depression and anxiety among Australians is high and often goes unrecognised, despite the substantial labour cost of mental illness in Australia (estimated to be $49 billion). Supervisors hold a key leadership responsibility in managing and enhancing the welfare and mental health of their staff. Clear guidelines have...

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Fair Work inspectors to audit 1600 hair and beauty salons

Hair and beauty salons and retail outlets are the focus of a new Fair Work Ombudsman compliance campaign that...

Hair and beauty salons and retail outlets are the focus of a new Fair Work Ombudsman compliance campaign that will target businesses along the east coast of Australia. Fair Work Inspectors will conduct audits of at least 1600 businesses in randomly selected urban and regional areas of Queensland, New South...

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