THE Australian Retailers Association (ARA) welcomed NSW Minister for Regional Development, Skills and Small Business, John Barilaro at its Learning and Development meeting yesterday in Sydney.

ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said the ARA Learning and Development Committee encompasses some of NSW biggest employers, representing hundreds of thousands of jobs.

“We were honoured to have Minister Barilaro attend our meeting yesterday and provide an overview of the NSW Governments small business and skills policies. The NSW Government is seeking consultation with the retail industry as to how the Government can best provide workforce development and skills from entry to management level retail staff.

“It was welcoming to see how passionate the Minister was about the retail sector. Retail is the largest private sector employer, encompassing 10.6% of the total workforce. Our industry is responsible for jobs creation and career opportunities for thousands of Australians, and we look forward to working alongside the NSW Government to ensure these opportunities are available to retailers both now and in the future,” Mr Zimmerman said.

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.

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THE Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) has applauded the outstanding results of the state’s tourism operators at the 2014 QANTAS Australian Tourism Awards in Adelaide on Friday night.

“The awards recognise the valuable contribution individual tourism and events operators make to our industry nationally and it is wonderful to see so many Victorians being acknowledged,” said VTIC Chief Executive Dianne Smith.

Ms Smith’s comments come as Victorian businesses took out four gold, seven silver and three bronze medals; an increase of two medals on the previous year.

Victoria’s gold winners (including award category):

- Frankston Visitor Information Centre (Visitor Information and Services)

- Enchanted Adventure Garden & Tree Surfing (Adventure Tourism)

- Riviera Nautic (Unique Accommodation)

- Drift House (Luxury Accommodation) 

Frankston Visitor Information Centre won gold for the third time in a row, securing it a place in the awards Hall of Fame.

The awards cover 28 categories including adventure, various types of accommodation, tours, restaurants, wineries, events and festivals.

Victoria’s significant contribution to the national industry was also acknowledged through the announcement that Melbourne will host the 2015 QANTAS Australian Tourism Awards next year.

Ms Smith encourages Victorian operators to nominate for the 2015 RACV Victorian Tourism Awards, which recognises business excellence at a state level.

For details of the application process and workshops to assist those considering entering, please visit www.victoriantourismawards.com.au

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VECCI Chief Executive Mark Stone said the organisation has been a long-standing supporter of the East West Link project and is obviously disappointed that the project will not proceed under the Andrews Government.

"The project would have reduced congestion, made the movement of freight more efficient and improved the amenity of Melbourne’s growth areas," Mr Stone said.

"We acknowledge that in the 2014 state election campaign, Daniel Andrews promised that a Labor Government would not proceed with the project. 

"VECCI acknowledges that the Victorian Government has reached a good faith agreement with the East West Link consortium to terminate the contract without compensation or legislation. 

"However, the fact that a substantial $339 million in bid process, design and pre-construction costs have already been incurred is unfortunate for taxpayers. 

"In addition, $81 million in fees were incurred to establish a credit facility for the East West Link project. However, this facility will now be used to support the Melbourne Metro Rail Project.

"The costs and complexities associated with East West Link confirms the establishment of Infrastructure Victoria, an independent body to advise on significant infrastructure planning and development matters, must be a priority. 

"We need to ensure there is a long-term approach to capital works beyond election cycles.  Key to this process is not only a broad and strong consensus on Victoria’s infrastructure priorities, but clarity, confidence and certainty for the private sector. 

"A priority of Infrastructure Victoria will be to determine what needs to occur to offset the loss of East West Link and reduce rapidly expanding congestion on Melbourne’s roads. This needs to encompass a second river crossing," Mr Stone said.

"In the interim, the State Government must use the coming State Budget to make an unequivocal commitment to deliver its forward infrastructure agenda, including the Melbourne Metro Rail Project, the removal of level crossings and vital capacity-enhancing regional projects."

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

vecci.org.au 

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THE Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is pleased Treasurer Joe Hockey and State Treasurers have recognised the unfairness of online digital content not being charged GST, unlike traditional forms of media.

Treasurer Hockey’s Netflix tax is said to be part of a clutch of tax integrity measures contained in next month's federal budget and would see popular overseas media streaming services, such as Netflix and Apple, charged GST on their downloads.

ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said it is now time to apply GST to all goods purchased from overseas, with the Netflix initiative proving just how easy colleting such tax can be.

“It should be just as easy to collect GST from Amazon as it is to collect GST from Netflix and Apple.

“The ARA has been leading the campaign to fix the under $1000 GST loophole for goods bought from overseas and is frustrated by vested interests slowing reform.

“We know around 20 companies bring in about 80 percent of all overseas purchased goods.

“State Governments are losing billions of dollars in GST revenue which could support teachers, police and doctors. Australian retailers are also not being given a level playing field, and this is costing many local jobs.

“The ARA has been in discussions with the government on how to speed up reform of collection,” Mr Zimmerman said.

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.

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THE resource industry employer group AMMA (Australian Mines and Metals Association) chief executive, Steve Knott, has welcomed the scrapping of the Federal Government's 1.5 percent levy to fund the Paid Parental Leave (PPL) scheme.

"THE Prime Minister’s announcement that he will not proceed with the 1.5 percent business levy to fund the government’s former paid parental leave scheme comes as welcome news to the Australian resource industry," Mr Knott said.

"Our industry strongly backs government and private sector initiatives to improve support for working parents, but has long argued that those larger businesses who already innovate and lead the way should not be penalised, nor asked to subsidise social policies that should be paid for from general revenues.

"AMMA has been on the record as early as 2010 highlighting the significant investments individual resource employers put into their own PPL and other parental support packages. It is not their role to then provide special funding for smaller businesses who don’t have internal PPL schemes," Mr Knott said.

"The decision to scrap the promised 1.5 percent corporate tax cut will therefore be of no practical consequence to those large employers which would have also been required to pay the PPL levy.

"The more fundamental consideration must be whether our levels of corporate taxes for all sizes of business are competitive and the extent to which they encourage or discourage investment and job creation in this country.

"With all areas of the resource industry under increasing pressure, the cost of operating in Australia needs to reduce if we are to remain globally competitive."

Mr Knott said Australia must have a national taxation system that can effectively progress important social and economic policies, without the need for additional levies.

"This must be balanced with the need for competitive Australian businesses and a competitive tax platform for attracting global investment," he said.

"The Treasurer recently called for a national conversation on our taxation system, which business will strongly support if it engages with fundamental questions affecting Australia’s competiveness.

"In the lead up to the 2015 Budget, we urge the government to carefully consider the comparative levels of all taxes, including levies and royalties, across our global competitors and start to address incentives and disincentives to investing and doing business in Australia."

www.amma.org.au

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PARLIAMENT'S Joint Intelligence and Security Committee has tabled a short report today to formally conclude its inquiry into the authorisation of access to telecommunications data to identify a journalist’s source.

The committee’s inquiry followed its earlier completion of an inquiry into the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment (Data Retention) Bill 2014, which was passed by the Parliament on 26 March 2015.

In its report on the Bill, the committee had recommended that it be tasked with undertaking a separate inquiry on the ‘question of how to deal with the authorisation of a disclosure or use of telecommunications data for the purpose of determining the identity of a journalist’s source’.

Since the referral of that inquiry, however, amendments were made to the Bill to introduce a journalist information warrant regime and to establish the position of a Public Interest Advocate for the purposes of making submissions to the warrant issuing authority.

The amended Bill also provides that the committee will be notified of the issuing of any journalist information warrants, and will have the opportunity to request briefings from the Commonwealth Ombudsman or the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security on any reports produced in relation to those warrants or authorisations.

The number of journalist information warrants and the number of authorisations issued under those warrants will also be included in an annual report which the committee will be able to review.

Given these developments, the committee determined to conclude its formal inquiry on the matter.

A copy of the report can be accessed via the committee’s website at http://www.aph.gov.au/pjcis.

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THE Commonwealth Science Council, chaired by the Prime Minister, met for the second time today in Canberra.

The meeting was also attended by the Minister for Industry and Science, the Minister for Health, the Minister for Education, and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Science.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said:

"Science is at the centre of Australian industry and science and technology are central elements to improving our productivity and competitiveness.

"The Commonwealth Science Council is an important source of advice to the Government in this respect.

"Amongst the discussions today, the Council focussed on STEM and future Science Research Priorities.

"The Government, with the Chief Scientist, will consult the science sector and industry to bring together a whole of government policy for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

"These consultations will help formulate a policy that will enhance Australian competitiveness, support high quality education and training, maximise research potential and strengthen international engagement through STEM.

"The STEM agenda will help ensure that Australia’s world-class science and world-leading industry collectively secure our future economic strength and prosperity.

"Building our STEM capability is critical to increasing Australia’s future scientific performance.

"It is vital that we have a strong and effective national approach.

"In addition to discussing STEM, items for the Commonwealth Science Council included setting national science and research priorities, implementation of the Boosting the Commercial Returns from Research strategy, carrying out the Industry Growth Centres initiative and the Research Infrastructure Review.

"The Commonwealth Science Council, which includes representatives from Government, business and science, provides strategic advice to Government on science and technology issues and is building stronger collaboration between scientists, researchers and industry."

Information about the consultation and how to be involved will be available on www.science.gov.au in coming weeks.

The Commonwealth Science Council will meet again in the second half of 2015.

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THE Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is pleased to announce that Jodie Fox, Chief Creative Officer and co-founder of multichannel retail sensation Shoes of Prey will be delivering the keynote address at the 2015 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards Breakfast.

ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said it will be a pleasure to see Jodie share her words of wisdom in front of over 500 retailers at the ARA Awards Breakfast on 2 July in Melbourne.

“We are ecstatic to have Jodie Fox present at this year’s event. With titles such as National Telstra Businesswoman of the Year under her belt, as well as regular appearances in SmartCompany's ‘Hot 30 Under 30’ list, Jodie has a wealth of knowledge to share with her retail peers. We’re confident all attendees will leave the Awards Breakfast feeling motivated to put some of Jodie’s business strategies into practise.

“The Shoes of Prey concept is a perfect example of how Australian retailers have innovated and adapted to today’s environment. Launched in 2009, Shoes of Prey was the first company to offer women the opportunity to design their own shoes online. Fast forward to today, the company boasts five offices globally with stores in both Australia and the United States.

“Shoes of Prey broke even within two months of its launch and hit multi-million dollar revenues within two years - a truly inspiring retail story that needs to be shared,” Mr Zimmerman said.

Jodie Fox said it was an honour to be invited to give the keynote address at the 2015 ARA Awards Breakfast and celebrate the achievements of Australian retailers.

“The Australian retail industry is at a tipping point whereby the elements we've long wished for are all becoming available to us. It's never an easy road to build a successful business - and there are plenty of failures along the way. But I’m optimistic about what we as a nation of retailers can achieve,” Ms Fox said.

The 2015 ARA Awards are open now – visit www.australianretailawards.com to enter. Tickets will be available online soon – to reserve your tickets now email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 
ARA Retail Awards -  key information and dates:
WHAT: 2015 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards
WHEN: Entries now open and due by Friday 8 May 2015
(Winners will be announced at the ARA Awards Breakfast in Melbourne on 2 July 2015)
TO ENTER: Visit www.australianretailawards.com.au to view eligibility criteria and select from twelve award categories
MORE INFORMATION: Phone 1300 368 041 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

ARA Award categories:
eftpos Australian Retailer of the Year
BDO Australian Retail Employer of the Year
The Realise Group Australian Independent Retailer of the Year
Pronto Software Australian Retail Innovator of the Year
Expr3ss! Staff Selection Software Australian Retail Graduate of the Year
NORA Australian Multichannel Retailer of the Year
FCB Australian Retail HR Rising Star of the Year
Rest Industry Super Individual Retailer of the Year
Roy Morgan Customer Satisfaction Retailer of the Year
Shop for Shops Australian Retail Store Fit-out of the Year
MasterCard Australian Retail Payments Leader of the Year.
 
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.