Retailers encouraged by next stage of Retail Leases Act review

PEAK retail industry body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) congratulates NSW Minister for Small Business and Primary Industries Katrina Hodgkinson after she today released the Discussion Paper on the Review of the Retail Leases Act 1994.

ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said the ARA has been working alongside the NSW Government to get the review underway for some time now, and is pleased the NSW Government will now undertake a period of public consultation to ensure the most up-to-date feedback is gathered.

Recommendations will then be made to Cabinet, including proposed legislative amendments to the Act.

“The Retail Leases Act 1994 was put in place to regulate the relationship between tenants and landlords by setting minimum standards for leasing retail space. Some of the key areas to be considered in the review include potential misuse of market power, negotiation of leases and issues relating to full disclosure of the terms and conditions of a lease, and introduction of a standard retail lease.

“The review is critical to the retail sector in NSW and a crucial step forward to ensuring more transparency and fairness in the lease negotiation process - which the ARA has been advocating for in order to level the power relationship between landlord and retailer.

“In 2008 the previous government released a retail leases discussion paper to review the Act but never followed through with the review. The ARA thanks Minister Hodgkinson and the NSW Government for their support on this issue,” Mr Zimmerman said.

Since 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has been the peak industry body representing Australia’s $258 billion retail sector, which employs over 1.2 million people.

The ARA ensures retail success by informing, protecting, advocating, educating and saving money for its 5,000 independent and national retail members throughout Australia.

Visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

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