PEAK retail industry body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) congratulates the New South Wales Government on moving forward with the CBD and South East Light Rail project but remains cautious over works scheduled close to Christmas in the Sydney CBD.

ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said this initiative was a win for the business community and that retailers are pleased to know the capacity for the project will be larger than expected but reassurance is still needed over works disruptions and access for deliveries and services.

“The NSW Government is getting on with the job of delivering the CBD and South East Light Rail project, and the important work along George Street will help ensure utilities are protected. Ultimately, this work will help ensure that the community can begin enjoying the new light rail service as soon as possible and give the great global city of Sydney some of the same commuter access to retailers that other cities such as Melbourne enjoy.

“However, the ARA does have some concerns regarding certain dates outlined in the projects construction plan. We would caution the NSW Government to be wary of work disrupting retail business in the CBD, particularly on the dates closest to Christmas around Margaret Street, Hunter Street, George Street and King Street.

“The ARA is in consultation with the NSW Government and City of Sydney over impacts to its many members affected along the prime retail corridor around George Street.

“While proposed works are on Monday’s just before Christmas, their proximity to Christmas, (particularly on the last trading Monday before Christmas) does raise concerns over how vehicle and pedestrian movements will impact on retail trade on what are historically some of the highest trade days of the year,” Mr Zimmerman said.

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Since 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has been the peak industry body representing Australia’s $265 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.

THE Council of Small Business Australia (COSBOA) is backing the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) Chairman Rod Sims today, after his announcement that the competition watchdog would be taking further legal action against Coles, amid allegations of engaging in ‘unconscionable conduct’ against suppliers.

Peter Strong, Chief Executive of COSBOA said he was very happy with the ACCC for their continued pursuit of a fair and just marketplace, not just for businesses, but consumers too.

“This can only have a positive impact on the productivity of the nation. Coles and Woolworths have been allowed to dominate and thwart any autonomy, innovation, free thought, fairness and new business ideas for too long.”

Coles is accused of forcing suppliers to pay for the cost of wastage and theft, fining for late deliveries and deducting fees without explaining the reason plus much more. The latest proceedings come just five months after the ACCC accused Coles of forcing about 200 smaller suppliers to pay extra rebates.

“We hope and expect that the final recommendations from Harper review, together with support from the ACCC and action from the Federal Treasurer, will help us stop this kind of behaviour once and for all!

“No doubt the highly paid and experienced lobbying army of Coles and Woolworths will now be mobilised in a campaign to maintain their dictatorship. COSBOA will actively support the ACCC’s current pursuit and continue to fight for equal rights and opportunities for small business people everywhere,” Mr Strong concluded.

http://www.cosboa.org.au/

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MANAGING the mental health of fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) employees is a key priority of the wider workplace safety and wellbeing efforts of Australian resource employers, the Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA) has told a Western Australian parliamentary inquiry.

In its submission to the Western Australia Legislative Assembly Education and Health Standing Committee Inquiry into mental health impacts of FIFO work arrangements, AMMA is cognisant of objective data suggesting mental illness and self-harm is no more prevalent in the mining workforce than other industries.

However, chief executive Steve Knott says an awareness of mental health as an ongoing risk that must be carefully managed has seen resource employers invest in an extensive range of proactive initiatives to maintain the wellbeing of their workforces.

“One suicide in the resource sector or broader community is one too many,” Mr Knott says. 

“Resource employers have implemented a number of initiatives to combat any risks associated with FIFO work practices. They are committed to promoting awareness and embedding fit-for-purpose, risk-based policies and procedures to protect the safety of their workforces.

“While we note from the experiences of employers and employees that there is no causal link between FIFO work practices and mental illness or self-harm, this is an area where we need to remain forever vigilant and continue to improve awareness and communication.”

AMMA’s submission notes that a range of publicly available data suggests there is no evidence that mental health issues are more pronounced in the resource industry compared to other industries.

For instance, a recent Safe Work Australia report attributed 0.6% of all mental stress claims in the Australian workforce to the mining industry.

Notwithstanding this, Mr Knott says there is a range of unique factors to FIFO work that must be acknowledged and managed by employers as part of their ‘whole-of-business’ mental health and workplace safety policies and initiatives.

“Proper mitigation strategies need to be considered to ensure risks to workers are reduced to the greatest extent possible. Other risks such as fatigue and drug and alcohol use are those which employers continuously monitor and address,” Mr Knott says.

“A common theme of feedback is that FIFO work is not for everyone, and resource employers go to great lengths in the recruitment stage to ensure people’s suitability to enter this lifestyle.”

AMMA’s submission also reiterates that FIFO work practices are essential for numerous projects in the Australian resource industry that may otherwise be commercially unviable.

With such working arrangements often suiting both employers and employees, there is a need for sensible and informed policy making in this area.

Click here to read AMMA’s submission to the WA inquiry into the mental health impacts of FIFO work.

www.amma.org.au

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VECCI chief executive Mark Stone claims the release of the 2013-14 Annual Financial Report for the State of Victoria shows aggregate payroll tax revenue was $19 million above the original budget estimate, largely reflecting growth in employment and earnings.

"Given that the total payroll tax revenue take is now almost $5 billion per annum – and forecast to rise by an average of 5.6 per cent over the next four years, the challenge for policy makers is to do what they can to keep Victorian business competitive," Mr Stone said.

"Business welcomed the recent cut in the payroll tax rate (from 1 July 2014), but reform should not stop there.

"VECCI’s Taking Care of Business state election agenda is calling on both major parties to increase the payroll tax threshold from $550,000 to $850,000 in order to encourage business and employment growth."

The Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) is the most influential body for employers in Victoria, informing and servicing more than 15,000 members, customers and clients around the state.

vecci.org.au

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