THE Australian Retailers Association (ARA) said the September trade figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) represent a disappointing move towards Christmas, with a 1.44 percent total year-on-year growth - well below the seasonally adjusted long-term average.

ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said these figures were extremely frightening this close to the biggest trading period of the year, and urges the Government to refocus on increasing disposable income.

“With Christmas not too far away, and the ARA Roy Morgan Pre-Christmas Sales Predictions to be released in a couple of weeks, these figures are in all honesty alarming,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“The category that’s been hit hardest in September was Household Goods with a -1.14 percent year-on-year growth.”

Mr Zimmerman said the softness in Sydney house prices are starting to impact consumer spend on household goods with Hardware and Building (-4.22%), Electrical Goods Retailing (-1.12%), and Furniture (2.98%) all showing a big drop in year-on-year growth.

“These figures show an obvious weakness in consumer confidence,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“If Australians aren’t feeling wealthy they will spend less, and this weakness is an issue across the board.”

The only retail category showing a slight increase was Food Retailing (2.85%), however this growth is still nowhere near the growth figures the retail industry received at the start of the year.

All states have again received a drop in year-on-year growth, an undesirable sign for Christmas. Although dismal, New South Wales (2.34%), Tasmania (2.33%), Victoria (2.29%) and South Australia (2.16%) showed the strongest year-on-year growth of the states. While both the Australian Capital Territory (1.17%) and Queensland (0.23%) remained quite low, Western Australia (-1.19%) and the Northern Territory (-1.46%) received negative figures, a worrying outlook for the months ahead.

With the ARA Roy Morgan Pre-Christmas Sales Predictions to be released in two weeks, Mr Zimmerman believes the Federal Government needs to act fast to stimulate the economy.

“There has been a lot of change in the Australian retail environment this year, and with change comes uncertainty, but one thing is for sure, Christmas is coming,” Mr Zimmerman said.

MONTHLY RETAIL GROWTH (August 2017– September 2017 seasonally adjusted) 

Department stores (2.08%), Food retailing (0.56%), Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (0.35%), Household goods retailing (-0.43%), Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (-0.73%) and Other retailing (-1.67%).

South Australia (0.65%), Tasmania (0.58%), Queensland (0.26%), New South Wales (0.23%), Australian Capital Territory (0.06%), Victoria (0.02%), Western Australia (-1.30%) and Northern Territory (-1.65%).

Total sales (0.03%).

YEAR-ON-YEAR RETAIL GROWTH (September 2016 – September 2017 seasonally adjusted)

Food retailing (2.85%), Other retailing (1.79%), Department stores (1.34%), Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (1.05%), Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (0.15%) and Household goods retailing (-1.14%). 

New South Wales (2.34%), Tasmania (2.33%), Victoria (2.29%), South Australia (2.16%), Australian Capital Territory (1.17%), Queensland (0.23%), Western Australia (-1.19%) and Northern Territory (-1.19%).

Total sales (1.44%).

About the Australian Retailers Association:

Founded in 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is the retail industry’s peak representative body representing Australia’s $310 billion sector, which employs more than 1.2 million people. The ARA works to ensure retail success by informing, protecting, advocating, educating and saving money for its 7,500 independent and national retail members throughout Australia. For more information, visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

ends

THE Australian Retail Credit Association (ARCA) welcomes the certainly provided by the Federal Government’s announcement that it will introduce a mandatory comprehensive credit reporting regime.

ARCA Executive Chairman Mike Laing said, “This announcement is a significant milestone that will positively transform credit reporting for both lenders and consumers.”
 
Today, the Turnbull Government announced that it will introduce a mandatory comprehensive credit reporting regime for the four major banks.  The regime will require the four major banks to share fifty percent of their comprehensive data by July 1 next year, and the remaining 50 percent by July 1 the year after. The Government also intends to consult further on whether to mandate additional institutions on a phased in basis.
 
To enable the mandatory regime, the Government has also announced that it will rely on the industry led and administered framework for the sharing of data.
 
As the peak body for the consumer credit industry, ARCA developed and administers the industry based data sharing framework, the Principles of Reciprocity and Data Exchange (PRDE). The PRDE is a principles-based framework which enables signatories to share positive information, such as on-time loan repayments, as well as negative data.
 
“These industry principles are critical to realising the benefits of comprehensive credit reporting and ARCA is pleased that the Turnbull government has confirmed that it will rely on them to implement its mandatory regime,” Mr Laing said.
 
Comprehensive credit reporting has been globally recognised for increasing the availability and affordability of responsible credit to borrowers. Positive information will improve the ability of credit providers to assess a consumer’s true credit capacity and make better lending decisions.

“ARCA looks forward to working collaboratively with Government, on behalf of our members and industry, as the Government drafts legislation enabling its announcement. We will continue to encourage and educate industry and consumers alike to better understand the benefits of comprehensive credit reporting and the PRDE,” Mr Laing said.

About ARCA
ARCA is the peak body for retail Credit Providers and Credit Reporting Bodies in Australia. ARCA promotes best practice in credit risk assessment and responsible credit, as well as promoting better standards in consumer credit reporting. ARCA takes a leadership role in encouraging the sharing of information to enable Credit Providers to better serve their customers.

www.arca.asn.au.

ends

THE Fair Work Ombudsman is making a difference for new arrivals to Australia with the development of six videos to help visa holders understand their workplace rights.

Each video has been produced in 16 languages other than English and builds on the Fair Work Ombudsman’s commitment to remove barriers that prevent migrant workers from accessing workplace assistance.

The initiative follows the launch of the Fair Work Ombudsman’s International Student Strategy on September 25.

Acting Fair Work Ombudsman Kristen Hannah said research commissioned during the development of the strategy indicated that expanding and enhancing the information available to migrant workers in-language would improve their awareness of their workplace rights.

“We are working hard to break down these barriers for both migrant workers and new arrivals who are interested in starting businesses in Australia,” Ms Hannah said.

The new and updated resources are available at www.fairwork.gov.au/languages.

The new videos are available in 16 languages:

·       Chinese (Simplified)

·       Chinese (Traditional)

·       Korean

·       Hindi

·       Arabic

·       French

·       German

·       Italian

·       Japanese

·       Spanish

·       Vietnamese

·       Indonesian

·       Filipino

·       Portuguese

·       Thai

·       Nepali

“Migrant workers have the same workplace rights as all other workers in Australia,” Ms Hannah said.

“In addition to factors such as a lack of awareness of workplace rights and limited English skills, cultural barriers can also mean that migrant workers can be more vulnerable to exploitation in the workplace.

“We want to make sure all people working in Australia, including those from overseas, are aware of their rights and know where and how to seek help.”

Ms Hannah said conduct the agency sees against migrants and visa-holders is often serious and highly exploitative.

Last financial year almost half of the Fair Work Ombudsman’s cases filed in court involved a visa holder.

Yet visa holders can be reluctant to speak up, fearing that doing so could compromise their future job prospects or lead to the cancellation of their visa.

“Visa-holders can be reassured that in line with an agreement between the Fair Work Ombudsman and the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, they can seek our assistance without fear of having their visa cancelled,” Ms Hannah said.

Information about the agreement with the Department of Immigration and Border Protection is available at www.fairwork.gov.au/visa-protections.

The Fair Work Ombudsman recently launched its popular Anonymous Report function in 16 languages other than English to make it easier for migrant workers to report workplace concerns. 

Ms Hannah said she will continue to encourage visa holders to seek free help from the agency if they experience any issues while working in Australia.

“We want migrant workers to know that they can come to us for free advice and assistance and to report their concerns. We are here to help,” Ms Hannah said.

Any employee or employer who has questions or concerns about their workplace rights and obligations can obtain free advice and assistance by visiting www.fairwork.gov.au or calling the Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94. 

A free interpreter service is available on 13 14 59 and information on the website is available in up to 30 different languages.

ends

THE Queensland Resources Council (QRC) is calling on the next State Government to be a strong voice for the sector and the 309,500 full-time employees it supports.

QRC Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane said the resources industry underpins the economic prosperity of the state, and a government supporting the sector both inside and outside the Parliament would see more investment for regional economies.

“The resources sector drives our regional communities from Townsville and Mt Isa in the North through to Toowoomba and Roma in the South.  Resources investment and jobs also make Brisbane the state’s biggest mining town – with $27 billion of Brisbane’s Gross Regional Product coming from the resources sector,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“It’s paramount the next Queensland Government recognises the sector’s contribution to the economy, including $3.8 billion in royalties forecast for the Budget this year.

“In particular, QRC is asking for all parties to commit to a royalties freeze.  The resources sector already does much of the heavy lifting for the Queensland economy, paying payroll tax, income tax, stamp duty, council rates and royalties.  Those royalties help pay the wages of teachers, nurses and police in communities across the state.

“In addition, QRC is seeking a commitment that there will be no new restrictions imposed on oil and gas exploration and development through the extension of the Pristine Rivers policy in the Cooper Basin.”

The key priorities of QRC’s Election Policy Agenda – Resourcing Queensland’s Future are:

1. commit to royalty stability – the current government’s commitment to royalty stability and a freeze on current royalty rates to be matched;
2. provide regulatory certainty – stable, workable and predictable policy and regulation based on genuine consultation;
3. deliver affordable energy – stabilise electricity costs while reducing emissions;
4. stand up for leading environmental practice – support a positive and realistic policy and regulatory framework and assess activist claims on scientific merit;
5. maximise investment in infrastructure – stimulate resources sector growth as well as regional development including by maximising funding from all government sources.

“By taking a proactive approach to exploration, standing up to anti-development activism, supporting projects and securing reliable and affordable power, thousands more construction jobs and permanent jobs could be created,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“Queensland resources companies have absorbed a three-fold increase in wholesale electricity prices over the last five years. The economy needs reliable, dispatchable power at an affordable price. Queensland also needs to play our part in reducing emissions.  The next State Government needs to deliver a balanced energy mix.”

Mr Macfarlane said every Queenslander, regardless of where they call home, had a vested interest in seeing our minerals and energy industries succeed and grow.

“A strong voice from government will mean that the resources sector can continue to underpin the state’s economy, jobs, and royalties for decades to come.”

www.qrc.org.au

ends