AUSTRALIA’S resource industry has used its annual national employment conference to urge the Turnbull Government to put ‘fundamental workplace relations reform’ back on the political agenda.

Speaking at the 2016 AMMA National Conference today in Perth, the association’s Chief Executive Steve Knott said it was ‘disappointing’ that the government failed to respond to the Productivity Commission’s recommendations on workplace relations reform during the election campaign.
 
He reiterated the need for the Coalition to pursue changes beyond the double dissolution triggers of the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) and a new Registered Organisations Commission.
 
“Fundamental reform of our workplace relations laws cannot be put on the backburner,” Mr Knott said at today’s Conference.
 
“The government’s commitment to combating union lawlessness and corruption is positive, but to assume this should be the last word on workplace reform would do Australian employers, employees and the wider community a profound disservice.
 
“Stopping at the five workplace relations bills foreshadowed by the government should not be acceptable. There are additional, widespread and longstanding problems with our workplace system that need to be addressed.
 
“AMMA is calling on the government to pursue its clearly foreshadowed changes while simultaneously implementing the Productivity Commission’s recommendations to improve Australia’s workplace relations framework.”
 
Referencing Tuesday’s rate cut by the RBA and the threatened downgrading of Australia’s AAA rating by the major international credit rating agencies, Mr Knott warned ‘significant micro and macro-economic reforms’ are needed to stop the momentum for further downgrades.
 
“Australia is stuck in a period of domestic political and reform inertia, and we have become an increasingly costly and complex place to do business,” said the AMMA boss.
 
“Unless we can begin to change this, we can expect upwards pressure on borrowing rates with consequential adverse impacts on both consumer spending and living standards.
 
“The AAA credit rating wake-up call and a historic low cash rate simply reflect what most in business already know. Put simply, Australia desperately needs to lift our competitiveness.
 
“In our industry the decision on where to invest capital largely rests on costs versus returns, political stability and the right policies for doing business.  It is imperative that we present a more attractive platform for investment to secure the $254bn worth of potential major resource developments in Australia that are in limbo, yet to achieve final investment decision.”
 
The 2016 AMMA National Conference features resource industry CEOs and ‘people managers’ exploring employee relations, human resources, leadership, culture and development topics. Click here for a full transcript of AMMA Chief Executive Steve Knott’s opening address.

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RETAILERS looking for opportunities to network, learn from other successful retailers and celebrate the cream of the crop in the industry are encouraged to purchase tickets for next week’s 2016 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards.

The annual Awards breakfast, to be held at Melbourne’s Grand Hyatt next Wednesday, August 10, will see Australia’s top retailers for 2016 crowned, with audience members to be inspired by keynote speakers who have trodden the retail path.

Tickets for Australia’s premier retail awards and networking breakfast are still available, with retailers urged to get in quick to avoid missing out. Tickets can be purchased at http://retail.org.au/2016-retail-awards/.

Jeff Allis, Co-Founder of Boost Juice, and Daniel Flynn, Co-Founder of FMCG goods and social enterprise business, Thankyou, will also grace the stage to impart some words of wisdom, advice and motivation.

Judging of the 2016 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards has now wrapped up, with both runners up and winners to be announced next Wednesday at the Breakfast. The event will be emceed by ABC’s Beverley O’Connor.

A record number of Award entries were received by the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) this year, reflecting the strong culture of innovation, success, and hard work by Australian retailers.

Russell Zimmerman, ARA Executive Director, said the event is not to be missed.

“In 2016 we have some big names up for prizes, along with one of the strongest fields of independent retailers we’ve seen in the more than 50 year history of the Australian Retail Awards,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“This year’s Awards Breakfast is not to be missed, judging from the talent and skill of our entries, as well as the high quality of our keynote speakers and networking opportunities.”

2016 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards categories include eftpos Retailer of the Year, Shop For Shops Store Fitout of the Year, Temando Multichannel Retailer of the Year, Frontline Recruitment Retail Employer of the Year, Rest Industry Super Retail Employee of the Year, FCB Retail HR Rising Star of the Year, Pronto Software Retail Innovator of the Year, ARA Retail Institute Retail Graduate of the Year, and ARA Independent Retailer of the Year.

2016 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards Breakfast

When: Wednesday 10 August 2016, 7am to 9:45am
Where: Grand Hyatt, 123 Collins St, Melbourne

Tickets & pricing: http://retail.org.au/2016-retail-awards/

ARA members $60/guests $80
ARA members table of 10 $550/guest table of 10 $750

About the eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards

First held in the 1970s, the eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards are the nation’s longest running and most prestigious retail event, recognising and rewarding outstanding retail businesses, innovations, and individuals across all sectors of retail.

Relaunched in 2008, the Awards culminate in the annual 2016 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards breakfast at Melbourne’s Grand Hyatt on August 10.
In 2016 there are nine Awards categories, judged by an experienced and distinguished panel of impartial fellow retailers, the 2016 awards event encompasses nine categories including, eftpos Retailer of the Year, Shop For Shops Store Fitout of the Year, Temando Multichannel Retailer of the Year, Frontline Recruitment Retail Employer of the Year, Rest Industry Super Retail Employee of the Year, FCB Retail HR Rising Star of the Year, Pronto Software Retail Innovator of the Year, ARA Retail Institute Retail Graduate of the Year, ARA Independent Retailer of the Year.

To enter the Awards or purchase tickets to the eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards Breakfast event, visit http://retail.org.au/2016-retail-awards/

About the Australian Retailers Association:

Founded in 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is the retail industry’s peak representative body representing Australia’s $293 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 5,000 independent and national retail members throughout Australia. For more information, visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

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TOMORROW (4 August) in Perth, Australia’s peak resource industry employer group AMMA will host its National Conference – the only annual conference dedicated to employment and workplace challenges facing the resource industry. 

Drawing a national audience of industry leaders and ‘people professionals’, the 2016 AMMA National Conference will feature a full-day program of keynote presentations and panel discussions on a range of workforce and workplace relations matters.
 
The conference comes at a time when resource industry employers are facing a range of challenges including declining project investment, commodity price slumps and a regulatory system failing to support competitiveness and productivity.
 
Open to all registered media, conference highlights include:
 
Keynote CEO Presentations

• Graham Hunt, CEO of Broadspectrum
• Peter Bennett, CEO of Clough
• Nev Power, CEO of Fortescue Metals Group

Political Address

• Minister for Employment and Minister for Women, Senator Michaelia Cash

Panel discussions

• In-depth leadership Q&A with Graham Hunt, Peter Bennett and Nev Power.
• Discussion on Australia’s workplace relations system and reforms that would improve the Fair Work Act featuring an all-star panel of resource industry and employment law practitioners.

Click here for the full 2016 AMMA National Conference Program.

WHEN:  Thursday, 4 August 2016        
WHERE: Fraser’s Kings Park, Perth        
CONTACT: To attend, please contact Kylie Sully on 0409 781 580, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

AMMA - Australian Mines and Metals Association

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THE Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision to lower the cash rate by 25 basis points to 1.5 percent this afternoon is expected to provide retailers with a much needed boost to sales, according to the Australian Retailers Association (ARA).

ARA Executive Director, Russell Zimmerman, said that while it may take a few weeks for consumers to adjust their levels of spending, he is hopeful that the downward movement of interest rates to its lowest ever will help to halt the slides in retail sales growth of the past few months.

“Retail spending growth has fallen since the beginning of 2016, with some states, such as Queensland and Western Australia suffering with almost stagnant growth,” said Mr Zimmerman.

“This reduction of interest rates will allow consumers greater access to discretionary cash, which we anticipate will result in Australians returning to stores. It’s been a difficult few months for many Australian retailers, particularly those in food retailing and household goods.

“It’s also crucial that we begin to see some upwards pressure on inflation, with the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) announced last week indicating growth of just one percent across the board, but much less for most retail categories.”

The recent election and unseasonably warm weather has also taken its toll on retail in the past quarter.

“With the Election now wrapped up, we’ve seen some consumer confidence return, and combined with this new drop in interest rates, we’ll be watching for a recovery as the Christmas period – retail’s most crucial period – grows closer,” Mr Zimmerman said. 

About the Australian Retailers Association:

Founded in 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is the retail industry’s peak representative body representing Australia’s $293 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 5,000 independent and national retail members throughout Australia. For more information, visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

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