WITH two weeks to go until Easter, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) says consumers are already filling their shopping baskets with all sorts of Easter treats.

ARA Executive Director, Russell Zimmerman said although many retailers push their Easter products just after the new year, the bulk of Easter sales do not occur until the fortnight before Good Friday.

“Even though the Easter sales period is shorter than the Christmas period, this holiday is still a strong trading event for retailers as many shoppers over cater for their Easter lunch and the Easter holiday period.

“The best-selling items for this holiday usually include hot cross buns, seafood, fresh produce, liquor and of course all things chocolate,” Mr Zimmerman said.

As most retailers are unable to trade on Good Friday and Easter Sunday there will also be an increase in general food and beverage sales as consumers stock up on the holiday essentials and entertaining supplies before the shutdown period.

With a number of bakeries creating delicious new variations on the classic hot cross buns, Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses predicts around 180 million buns will be sold this Easter, a 20 percent increase from last year.

“Easter is the biggest trading time of year for most Australian bakeries, and hot cross buns represent a huge segment of Easter sales,” Mr Zimmerman said.

With many Australians upholding a traditional seafood lunch for Good Friday, many seafood retailers will also be preparing for large crowds.

The Sydney Fish Market will put extended hours in place to accommodate for its single busiest trading day of the year, operating from 5.00am until 5.00pm on Good Friday. The market is expecting over 50,000 people to walk through its doors on this day, and predicts more than 500 tonnes of seafood to be traded.

General manager at Sydney Fish Market, Bryan Skepper said that although Sydney might have seen its fair share of wet weather recently, this climate is good news for seafood lovers.

“The recent rains will freshen the coastal waterways resulting in great catches and an abundance of fish in the lead up to Easter,” Skepper said.

As Easter is much later than last year, Mr Zimmerman believes many retailers will be able to pick up additional sales with new ideas and targeted offers.

“Easter is a key sales period for retailers and every year we see retailers increase their sales with innovative Easter products,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“With winter fashion already being delivered in store, consumers will also start their winter shopping during the Easter trading period, to get ready for the new season’s arrival.”

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.

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THE $35 billion Future Frigate project reached a significant milestone today with the release of the Request for Tender (RFT) to the three shortlisted designers; BAE, Fincantieri and Navantia.

Minister for Defence Industry, Christopher Pyne, said the Future Frigate project is currently the largest frigate shipbuilding program of its kind in the world.

“Today’s announcement shows the Government is on track to begin construction of the Future Frigates in 2020 in Adelaide,” Minister Pyne said.

“The release of the RFT is an important part of the Competitive Evaluation Process which will lead to the Government announcing the successful designer for the Future Frigates in 2018.”

Minister Pyne said evaluation of the responses to the Future Frigate RFT would commence later this year.

“Three designers—BAE Systems with the Type 26 Frigate, Fincantieri with the FREMM Frigate, and Navantia with a redesigned F100, have been working with Defence since August 2015 to refine  their designs.

“The three shortlisted designers must demonstrate and develop an Australian supply chain  to support Australia's future shipbuilding industry, and also how they will leverage their local suppliers into global supply chains.

“The Government is committed to maximising Australian industry opportunities and participation and this project will contribute to building a sustainable Australian shipbuilding workforce.”

The Future Frigates are the next generation of naval surface combatants and would conduct more challenging maritime warfare operations in our regions including delivering a greater impact on anti-submarine operations.

The frigates will also be equipped with a range of offensive and self-protection systems.

The nine Future Frigates are part of the Government’s $89 billion national shipbuilding endeavour which would see Australia develop a strong and sustainable naval shipbuilding industry.

This critical investment will generate significant economic growth and sustain thousands of Australian jobs over decades, the Minister said.

For more on the Future Frigate program visit the Defence website http://www.defence.gov.au/casg/EquippingDefence/SEA5000PH1_FutureFrigates

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THE Australian Retailers Association (ARA) proposes a 1.2 percent National Minimum Wage increase given the continuing economic uncertainty and fragility of the retail sector.

ARA Executive Director, Russell Zimmerman said Australian retailers are continuing to face a difficult operating environment and this increase is the best way to preserve employment within the retail sector.

“Given economic uncertainties, historically low inflation along with rising costs for retailers this 1.2 percent increase will minimise employment losses in the weak labour market,” Mr Zimmerman said.

The ARA has consulted their membership base, including large members and numerous small to medium Australian retailers in making their recommendation.

“The retail industry’s submission has outlined the difficult trading environment existing in the retail sector as a result of globalisation and advances in technology throughout the industry,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“With low to flat price growth and increased wages costs well above our international competitors, it’s critical that the Fair Work Commission take into account the weak economic trading conditions when making their decision,” Mr Zimmerman said.

The ARA’s position preserves the value of the minimum wage over the recent years where wages have been outstripped by increasing price growth throughout the industry.

“Our members have experienced significant cost pressures through international competition and reduced margins therefore we strongly recommend this wage increase remains realistic and reasonable for all businesses operating in the retail sector,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“We trust the FWC will ascertain the best approach for determining a federal minimum wage increase during this fluctuating period where large sectors of the economy are either in decline or receiving minimal growth.”

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.

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THE House Tax and Revenue Committee today presented its review of the Australian Taxation Office’s 2016 Annual Report and agency performance over tax time 2016.  

The Committee Chair Mr Kevin Hogan MP said that tax time 2016 was an important test for the transformation of ATO services under the Reinvention Program.

“The implementation of myTax and the refinement of online lodgement services for tax agents and business was a big part of the ATO’s reform agenda, but there was also the need to change the performance culture of the ATO,” Mr Hogan said.

The Committee’s review found that, this tax year, more Australian taxpayers went online to prepare and lodge their tax returns and business activity statements.

Complaint and dispute levels had also dropped dramatically compared with tax time 2015. Meanwhile, the ATO had made big advances in its engagement with tax agents and small business, who have been working closely with the agency to ensure compatibility of online payments and lodgement systems.

A number of these recommendations go to the need for increased accountability at a time when the digitisation of government services has raised concerns about the security and integrity of the data held. Others focus on fairness in ATO decision-making and revenue collection accountability.

The Committee has also urged the ATO to put on the public record the information it has on the cash economy and the revenue gap, to promote public debate and awareness of the problem.

“While the ATO is to be congratulated on its achievements over the reporting period, the Committee has called for greater accountability in performance reporting in future annual reports. This responds to scale of the Tax Office’s transformation, and will allow for the results of the reforms to be better gauged over time,” Mr Hogan said.

Copies of the report and information about the inquiry are available on the Committee website: http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House/Tax_and_Revenue

Interested members of the public may wish to track the committee via the website. 

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THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (SBFEO) today called for a full Parliamentary inquiry into penalty rates to ensure that the Fair Work Commission’s recent decision is not dumped in the face of political scaremongering and backflips.

The Ombudsman, Kate Carnell, said the Fair Work Commission’s independent decision to scale back some penalty rates for Sunday trading was too important to be subject to a knee-jerk political campaign, which was long on emotional claims and short on the facts.\

“This is too important to be left to petty politicking and flip-flopping without a full review of the potential benefits for jobs and growth in the community,” she said.

“Let’s have a Parliamentary inquiry and put all the facts on the table so the community is not sucked into senseless scare campaigns that end up selling them short by jettisoning sensible measures to grow jobs and promote growth in the small business sector.

“History shows us just how bitter and vitriolic debate about industrial relations can become and how easily facts can become distorted.

“I note the findings of an analysis undertaken by the Department of Employment that found that FWC decision would impact 2.8 per cent of the workforce – or approximately 285,000 people – as opposed to the widely reported 685,000-plus figure mistakenly used by some to politicise the debate.

“For this reason I am supportive of a Parliamentary inquiry to explore publicly and in full the basis of the FWC decision and to forensically examine the details of Enterprise Bargaining Agreements negotiated by unions and big businesses operating on Sundays and public holidays.”

The Fair Work Commission’s independent decision after a two-year review to adjust Sunday penalty rates in select industries has been subject to political attacks and calls for its decision to be overturned.

Labor has rejected the Fair Work Commission’s decision and undertaken to have it set aside. This week One Nation, the Nick Xenophon Team and Senator Derryn Hinch have reversed their previous support for the Fair Work Commission’s decision on penalty rates.

Ms Carnell said that the integrity of the industrial relations system was underpinned by the independence of the Fair Work Commission and it was vital that the setting of minimum wage rates and other terms and conditions were quarantined from political influence.

“All sides of politics acknowledge small business is the engine room of the economy, however, this should not be taken for granted and I encourage all sides of politics to keep this in mind when conducting an ongoing national conversation on this issue,” she said.

www.asbfeo.gov.au

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TODAY the Trade Sub-Committee of the Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (JSCFADT) will hear from Austrade and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade at the first public hearing for its inquiry into Australia’s trade and investment relationship with the United Kingdom.

‘Later today the UK Government will take the next big step towards leaving the European Union by formally notifying the EU of its decision and triggering Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon,’ the Chair of the Trade Sub-Committee, Senator Bridget McKenzie said.

‘So it is timely to hear the latest from both Austrade and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade about the UK’s path towards Brexit and the opportunities and risks ahead for Australian trade and investment with its largest trading partner in Europe at the Trade Sub-Committee’s opening public hearing of its inquiry.’

‘With two-way trade in goods and services worth nearly $27 billion in 2015-16, the UK has long been Australia’s most significant trade and investment partner in Europe. The Sub-Committee will investigate the opportunities to expand these trade and investment links, and also the merits and timing of a proposed bilateral free trade agreement with the UK,’ Senator McKenzie said.

The inquiry is also looking at the significant UK investment in Australia and Australian investment in the UK. In 2015 the UK had direct investments worth $76 billion in Australia, and Australia had direct investments of $81 billion in the UK.

The Trade Sub-Committee invites submissions from any organisation or individual with an interest in Australia’s trade and investment relationship with the UK. Submissions addressing the terms of reference can be lodged by 31 March 2017 but deadline extensions can be discussed. Further details about the inquiry, including how to contribute, can be obtained from the Committee’s web site, www.aph.gov.au/jfadt, or by contacting the Committee Secretariat.

Public hearing details: 10:05am - 11:00am, Wednesday 29 March, Committee Room 2S1, Parliament House, Canberra

This hearing will be streamed live at aph.gov.au/live.

Interested members of the public may wish to track the committee via the website. 

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AT A PUBLIC hearing in Canberra today, industry and business advocacy groups will have their say on new rules for the Australian Government’s $59 billion procurement budget.

The Joint Select Committee on Government Procurement is considering how best to implement revised Commonwealth Procurement Rules.

The revised rules, which came into effect on 1 March 2017, require Commonwealth officials to consider:

• whether products or services being procured comply with Australian standards for goods and services;
• suppliers’ adherence to labour regulations, OH&S and environmental standards;
• the economic benefit of the procurement to the Australian economy; and
• meeting national and international obligations under trade and other agreements.

Committee Chair Senator Nick Xenophon said the revised Commonwealth Procurement Rules aim to increase the competitiveness of Australian businesses when they bid for Australian Government contracts, particularly against their international counterparts.

“The new rules require Commonwealth officials to consider how a procurement can benefit the Australian economy. This levels competition between domestic and international businesses when it comes to supplying the goods and services Australia needs,” Mr Xenophon said.

“However, it is crucial that the new rules are implemented effectively. It is essential that benefits to the Australian economy can be assessed efficiently and quickly without increasing red tape for businesses or government agencies.”

“This public hearing is the first in a series, in which the Committee will seek the perspective of industry, government agencies and the community on the best way to apply the rules.”

A public hearing program and inquiry Terms of Reference are available on the Committee’s website.

Public hearing details: 4pm - 6pm, Wednesday 29 March, Committee Room 2S1, Parliament House, Canberra

This hearing will be streamed live at aph.gov.au/live.

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THE Queensland Resources Council welcomes the announcement of ‘Project Ruby,’ the Shell Australia/QGC joint venture, that will employ hundreds of people, and inject new gas supply into the east coast gas market.

QRC Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane said the announcement was yet another sign that Queensland was getting on with business.

The ‘Project Ruby’ development in the Surat Basin underpins 350 new and existing jobs, which is good news for the local community, and good news for Queensland’s gas supply,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“The QRC is pleased that Queensland is leading the way when it comes to working to address the problem of the east coast gas shortage.”

Up to 161 new wells will be drilled in 2017 and 2018 in QGC’s existing tenements in south-west Queensland.

“This significant milestone for the QGC project is also a vote of confidence in Queensland’s onshore gas industry,” Mr Macfarlane said.
 
“Importantly, this is an investment into regional Queensland, where state and local governments and farmers support the gas industry, resulting in massive economic benefits for local and state governments as well as farmers and rural and regional communities.”

www.qrc.org.au