Blackout periods and seasonal casuals: tips and tricks

While we may only be halfway through the year, it is generally time to start planning for seasonal periods...

While we may only be halfway through the year, it is generally time to start planning for seasonal periods and how to best cover increased staffing needs. The general solution businesses turn to is enforcing blackout periods for their permanent staff and engaging casuals to cover the busy months....

Read More

New VET Strategy will guarantee Queensland’s current and future jobs growth demands are met

Minister for Employment and Small Business, Minister for Training and Skills Development, and Minister for Youth Justice. The Honourable...

Minister for Employment and Small Business, Minister for Training and Skills Development, and Minister for Youth Justice. The Honourable Di Farmer Queensland is to get a new VET Strategy to ensure we meet the demands of Queensland’s current and future jobs growth. The Government has released a discussion paper...

Read More

Introducing our expanded and enhanced categories for 2023

We are excited to announce that this year, our flagship Small, Medium, and Large Retailer of the Year Awards...

We are excited to announce that this year, our flagship Small, Medium, and Large Retailer of the Year Awards have gotten even bigger and better! We are proud to recognise the outstanding efforts of retailers who have triumphed in both the traditional shopfront arena and the exhilarating world of...

Read More

National Retail Association calls for a ban on car seat head straps

The National Retail Association is calling for a ban on a relatively new child restraint aftermarket accessory – car...

The National Retail Association is calling for a ban on a relatively new child restraint aftermarket accessory – car seat head straps. We are convinced by expert assessment that the use of these products with young children can lead to serious lifelong injuries or death. Australian Standard 1754 for child restraint...

Read More

Retailers to find their bearings with July rates pause

The Reserve Bank has been praised for seeing the light of day and deciding to pause interest rates at...

The Reserve Bank has been praised for seeing the light of day and deciding to pause interest rates at 4.1 percent, giving retailers a chance to find their bearings. National Retail Association CEO Greg Griffith has welcomed the RBA’s decision to pause interest rates this month, allowing the sector to...

Read More

Message from our CEO – 4 July 2023

It’s been a big week for retailers preparing for End of Financial Year (EOFY) and assessing their business needs...

It’s been a big week for retailers preparing for End of Financial Year (EOFY) and assessing their business needs for the year ahead. Thank you to everyone who has completed our member pulse survey, your feedback, and insights have been invaluable, and we will soon provide an overview of...

Read More

Sustainability Update – 27 June 2023

The National Retail Association’s Policy team actively works across multiple sustainability and environmental regulations impacting retailers and their supply...

The National Retail Association’s Policy team actively works across multiple sustainability and environmental regulations impacting retailers and their supply chains. NABERS Energy NABERS is a national government program that rates the operational performance of buildings on a 6-star rating scale. It provides a simple, reliable, and comparable sustainability measurement. Over the last...

Read More

Strong signals a strengthened Modern Slavery Act is on the way

Prepared by National Retail Association ESG Consultant, Dr Geoffrey Annison Of all the issues included in the scope of ESG...

Prepared by National Retail Association ESG Consultant, Dr Geoffrey Annison Of all the issues included in the scope of ESG (Environment, Social, Governance), modern slavery is without a doubt the most confronting for businesses. According to the 2022 International Labour Organization (ILO) Global Estimates of Modern Slavery report, 50 million persons...

Read More

Important changes to workplace laws commencing on 1 July 2023

Minimum wage increase – The Fair Work Commission will raise the National Minimum Wage to $882.80 per week or $23.23...

Minimum wage increase – The Fair Work Commission will raise the National Minimum Wage to $882.80 per week or $23.23 per hour, along with a 5.75% increase to minimum award wages. The new rates will apply to affected workers starting from the first full pay period on or after 1...

Read More

Ready to take on a retail award but not sure where to begin?

We know the entry process can seem daunting at first, but don't worry - we've got your back. This...

We know the entry process can seem daunting at first, but don't worry - we've got your back. This year, we've streamlined the entry process to make it super easy and hassle-free for you with our few quick tips. Start now, edit later We've made it easy for busy retailers to...

Read More

The National Retail Awards are back for the 51st Celebration!

Bigger, Better, and ready to rock the retail industry. The National Retail Association is excited to announce the return of...

Bigger, Better, and ready to rock the retail industry. The National Retail Association is excited to announce the return of the highly anticipated National Retail Awards for the  51st year, coming to Brisbane on October 26, 2023. These National Retail Awards are the ultimate celebration of retail excellence. Recognizing and rewarding...

Read More

Retail workers and business owners deserve better protection from violence

The National Retail Association has expressed disappointment with the meagre sentence handed to the first person convicted under laws...

The National Retail Association has expressed disappointment with the meagre sentence handed to the first person convicted under laws supposedly designed to protect retail workers from violence. National Retail Association's Director – Policy, David Stout, said retail business owners and their employees had been watching the case closely, hoping to...

Read More

Mother’s Day spending thwarts retail trade slump

Mother’s Day spending in May gave retailers some relief despite cost-of-living and sky-rocketing interest rate increase continuing to bite...

Mother’s Day spending in May gave retailers some relief despite cost-of-living and sky-rocketing interest rate increase continuing to bite at consumer confidence. Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics today revealed a rise of 0.7 percent increase in retail turnover, up from a flat result in April. National Retail Association...

Read More

ACCC Announces 2023-24 Product Safety Priorities

Every year, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) identifies key areas to minimise and raise awareness of the...

Every year, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) identifies key areas to minimise and raise awareness of the risks posed by unsafe consumer goods. Last week, ACCC announced the 2023-24 Product Safety Priorities  1. Young children’s product safety Compliance, enforcement, and education initiatives, focusing on consumer products, such as sleep aids,...

Read More

National Packaging Targets

The 2025 National Packaging Targets apply to all packaging that is made, used, and sold in Australia, and the...

The 2025 National Packaging Targets apply to all packaging that is made, used, and sold in Australia, and the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is charged by the Australian government to facilitate the delivery of the 2025 targets. The Sustainable Packaging Guidelines document includes the National Packaging Targets information and...

Read More

Message from our CEO – 27 June 2023

In a big win for the retail sector, the New South Wales Government announced this week that new legislation...

In a big win for the retail sector, the New South Wales Government announced this week that new legislation will be introduced to protect retail workers from customer aggression. The National Retail Association has strongly advocated for all States and Territories to introduce laws to protect retail workers, in...

Read More