THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell has welcomed an agreement between the SDA and Master Grocers Australia to make improvements to the Retail Award, which will help small businesses in their recovery efforts.

The changes, supported by the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA), allow retail businesses and workers to agree to increased hours for part time workers that provide flexibility to businesses and security for part time staff.

The proposed reforms have been submitted to the Fair Work Commission for approval, including the provision of access to arbitration by both employers and workers.

Ms Carnell said the agreed changes to the Retail Award were in line with the perma-flexi classification policy long-held by her office.

“This agreement represents significant progress for small businesses that have been crying out for greater flexibility as they recover from the COVID crisis,” Ms Carnell said.

“The agreed changes to the award are proof that better outcomes for business and workers are possible when parties approach the negotiating table with an open mind.

“Under the current system, employers are more likely to hire a casual worker when a staff member takes leave because giving existing staff additional hours comes at a far greater cost.

“If approved, the revised award allows small businesses to offer more hours to their part time employees, while also giving those existing staff members the opportunity to work more hours if they choose.

“Importantly, both small businesses and workers will have enforceable rights under the award, with access to arbitration through the Fair Work Commission.

“It is agreements like this that will give small businesses the confidence and flexibility they need to get back on their feet as part of the national economic recovery.” 

www.asbfeo.gov.au

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QUEENSLAND'S resources industry received the not-so-sweet news this week that it now ranks number 16 out of 77 jurisdictions in the world in terms of investment attractiveness.

Queensland has dropped an alarming six points over the past five years according to the the Fraser Institute’s Annual Survey of Mining Companies 2020, well behind Western Australia’s ranking of four and South Australia at seven.

Queensland Resources Council chief executive Ian Macfarlane has expressed disappointment at the ranking but said the State Government’s commitment to implement a post-COVID Resources Industry Development Plan could help return the state to global favour.

“Mining delivers governments an incredible return on investment through taxes, royalties and employment opportunities but global companies feel more comfortable investing their money into regions where governments are openly and actively supportive of their business,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“I’m pleased to say there’s been a marked turnaround in the Queensland Government’s attitude towards mining over the past 12 months, demonstrated by a commitment to a new industry development plan, so the resources sector is feeling much more optimistic for the future.

“We’re hopeful the implementation of a forward-thinking, dynamic industry plan will lead to a return to the days when mining was celebrated in Queensland and people were proud of the innovations and accomplishments of our sector.”

Mr Macfarlane said Queensland had abundant mineral and gas reserves and a skilled local workforce, but needed the right policy settings to attract the eye of international investors.

As further evidence Queensland has some work to do, this year the state ranked number 29 on the survey’s Policy Perception Index, which measures the local policy and regulatory environment to exploration investors.

This is the worst score in Australia and well behind Western Australia at 11, South Australia at 16 and Tasmania at 25.

Mr Macfarlane said this outcome wasn’t surprising, with the QEC’s 2020 Exploration Scorecard identifying policy uncertainty as a barrier to exploration investment in Queensland.

“Improving the perception of Queensland’s policy environment is vital to the future growth of our exploration sector, and the QRC looks forward to working collaboratively with the State Government on the Resources Industry Development Plan to achieve this,” he said.

The survey’s Best Practices Mineral Potential Index ranked Queensland at 15, which is again behind Western Australia (6), South Australia (8) and the Northern Territory (14).

www.qrc.org.au

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A SELECT committee on mental health and suicide prevention has been established to consider a range of strategic reviews of the current mental health system, and whether the recommendations are fit for purpose to address the fallout from bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Chair of the House of Representatives Select Committee on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Dr Fiona Martin MP said, "While the bushfires were catastrophic, it was the emergence of COVID-19 that has changed everything. Over the last year, COVID-19 has had a significant effect on the mental health of many Australians through increased isolation, job loss and financial stress.

"In addition, there has been a reduction in access to face-to-face mental health services, with many changing to telephone support models, while crisis organisations and suicide prevention services experience higher demand. However, it has also seen innovation prioritised and communities rally to support one another."

The committee will begin the inquiry by reviewing the findings of the Productivity Commission Inquiry Report into Mental Health, the Report of the National Suicide Prevention Officer, the Victorian Royal Commission and the National Mental Health Workforce Strategy. It will then turn its attention to the experiences and successes of mental health and suicide prevention stakeholders, from grassroots services through to international initiatives.

The committee is accepting written submissions addressing one or more of the terms of reference and invites individuals and organisations to share their views with the committee. The closing date for submissions is March 24, 2021. A guide to making a submission can be found on the website.

The committee will also hold hearings as part of this inquiry so that it can hear from people who have relevant experience or expertise. The dates and locations for the committee's hearings will be published on the inquiry website.

The Committee is unable to intervene or provide advice in relation to individual circumstances. If you are in immediate danger, please contact 000. If you or someone you know needs help, contact one of the services below:

Lifeline Australia 13 11 14
Suicide Call Back 1300 659 467
Kids Help Line 1800 551 800
BeyondBlue 1300 224 636
eheadspace 1800 650 890

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AUSTRALIA'S ‘bricks and mortar’ retail industry experienced a challenging 2020. Now, new research from a leading parcel delivery service reveals the solutions retailers believe will help the entire retail industry bounce back this year.

The findings come from an independent survey of 172 Australian retailers, commissioned by CouriersPlease (CP). 

When CP asked retailers about their own recovery, a third (36 percent) said they would be able to recover to pre-pandemic levels between July and December this year. Just a quarter (24 percent) revealed their recovery could be in July. Thirteen percent said their recovery would depend on restrictions lifting completely, and 8 percent said recovery would take place after 2021.

CP then presented retailers with a list of potential solutions that could help the retail industry recover faster – including an extension of the JobKeeper scheme and tax incentives from the government. CP asked retailers to choose what they think the industry needs to bounce back once social restrictions are removed. Respondents could choose multiple answers.

The majority of retailers (42 percent) believe an effective treatment or vaccine is needed, 34 percent said further government assistance to help them pay employee salaries, such as an extension of the JobKeeper scheme; 27 percent said tax incentives from the government; and 17 percent believe further cashback incentives from the government are necessary for the industry’s recovery.

One fifth (22 percent) of retailers said a recovery would require more cash for consumers to help boost their confidence. Consumer confidence fell by 27 percent when social restrictions were enforced last year.[1]

Paul Roper, chief commercial officer at CP said, "The retail industry has a long way to go to recovery. While e-commerce has remained strong, many bricks and mortar retailers were forced to close their doors last year. The end of JobKeeper in March, a slow rollout of the NSW Government’s Dine and Discovery voucher scheme and continuing COVID cases across the country, including the recent spike in cases in Melbourne, are just a few of the factors that could lead to cautious consumer spending this year.

“I encourage these retailers to consider shifting to, or growing, their online or omnichannel offering as more Australians become comfortable with online shopping. A number of support measures remain at retailers’ disposal, including the SME Guarantee Scheme and the instant asset write-off scheme.”

The full survey results, including breakdowns across organisation size and industries, can be found here: couriersplease.com.au/Portals/0/CP_Retail_Industry_White_Paper_230221.pdf

[1] Roy Morgan, March 2020 roymorgan.com/findings/8340-anz-roy-morgan-consumer-confidence-march-24-2020-202003232236

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