Back your backyard – American Express launches Shop Small this November

Returning this November for its sixth year, Shop Small shines the spotlight on the importance of small businesses and...

Returning this November for its sixth year, Shop Small shines the spotlight on the importance of small businesses and encourages Australians to walk through their doors. It reminds people that if they value small businesses and want to see them thrive, they need to support them. American Express has marked...

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What is the ‘gig economy’ and how does it affect me?

By Sooraj Sidhu, NRA Legal You might have heard in recent months the term ‘gig economy’ being thrown around by...

By Sooraj Sidhu, NRA Legal You might have heard in recent months the term ‘gig economy’ being thrown around by politicians, lawyers and leaders in workplace relations. The term, which has become buzzword of the century, refers to the burgeoning number of workers engaged in short-term or temporary positions, either through...

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Message from the CEO, Dominique Lamb: 24 April 2018

The ACTU’s war against employers continues this week, with an outlandish claim that its push for a whopping 7.2...

The ACTU’s war against employers continues this week, with an outlandish claim that its push for a whopping 7.2 per cent increase to the minimum wage would create 87,000 new jobs over two years. As you know, upping your staff’s wages by $50 per week each is not going to...

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Message from the CEO, Dominique Lamb: 17 April 2018

The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has upped the ante on its anti-business crusade, unveiling an alarming six-point...

The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has upped the ante on its anti-business crusade, unveiling an alarming six-point plan it believes will lift wages. It’s a plan that’s more likely, however, to send businesses broke and cost Australians their jobs. Industry groups, including the NRA, have warned the unions’ bid...

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Message from the CEO: 18 July 2017

A number of major sporting events have been in the headlines recently, from the Jeff Horn vs Manny Pacquiao...

A number of major sporting events have been in the headlines recently, from the Jeff Horn vs Manny Pacquiao boxing match, to the State of Origin Series and English Premier League side Arsenal are currently touring Australia. In the coming months we will have the NRL and AFL Finals, the...

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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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Message from the CEO: 24 October 2016

Retailers have reason to be hopeful of a very Merry Christmas in 2016, following the release of the Commonwealth...

Retailers have reason to be hopeful of a very Merry Christmas in 2016, following the release of the Commonwealth Bank Business Sales Index (BSI) for September. The BSI – released late last week – was jam-packed with good news for retailers on the consumer spending front and this should act...

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A Message from the CEO: 18 July 2016

The re-elected Turnbull Government has this week shown a dawning awareness of the real challenges confronting the Australian economy,...

The re-elected Turnbull Government has this week shown a dawning awareness of the real challenges confronting the Australian economy, with a number of MPs drawing attention to unemployment and faltering economic conditions, particularly in regional areas. For the retail sector, the difficult trading conditions in some market segments were highlighted...

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Brexit and Australian consumer confidence

While British shoppers put away their wallets, doom and gloom from the Brexit referendum hasn’t heavily impacted Australia’s retail...

While British shoppers put away their wallets, doom and gloom from the Brexit referendum hasn’t heavily impacted Australia’s retail sector. Despite the recent financial turmoil, ANZ-Roy Morgan consumer confidence index fell 1.7 per cent, however it remains above the monthly average. Although, Felicity Emmett, Head of ANZ Australian Economics warns that...

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Federal Budget lends helping hand to SME’s

On May 3, 2016, Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison MP handed down the Federal Government’s 2016/17 Budget. This is the third...

On May 3, 2016, Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison MP handed down the Federal Government’s 2016/17 Budget. This is the third budget for the current Coalition Liberal-National Government and the first for Scott Morrison. This budget is critical to the formation of the economic plan that will be taken to the...

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Australia has been named as a global leader in moving towards a cashless future

In a new global report, “The Cashless Journey,” MasterCard Advisors tracked how 33 major economies are progressing from cash-based...

In a new global report, “The Cashless Journey,” MasterCard Advisors tracked how 33 major economies are progressing from cash-based to cashless societies. The report identifies new technologies, government programs and consumer preferences as key factors that are driving this shift, creating more productive and inclusive economies. Cash still accounts for...

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Melbourne’s economy strengthened by strong retail sector

The Lord Mayor Robert Doyle and Minister for Employment and Public Transport, Jacinta Allan successfully launched the Melbourne Retail...

The Lord Mayor Robert Doyle and Minister for Employment and Public Transport, Jacinta Allan successfully launched the Melbourne Retail and Hospitality Strategy Year 2 Report on 7 April. Mr Doyle noted, “Employment in both our retail and hospitality industries is up; we gained eight per cent more hospitality outlets from...

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Message from the CEO: 5 February 2016

Today’s official retail trade figures for December have confirmed the NRA’s predictions of steady and “sensible” spending by Australian...

Today’s official retail trade figures for December have confirmed the NRA’s predictions of steady and “sensible” spending by Australian consumers in the lead up to Christmas. The figures showed spending during the pre-Christmas period (the final six weeks of the year) reached $44.63bn – only just above our prediction...

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