THE Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is 'completely dumbfounded with Labor’s insidious act' in disregarding one of the most progressive decisions for the retail industry, first ruled by the Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission (FWC) and upheld by five judges of the Federal Court in the Senate yesterday.

Both the ALP and the Greens have tampered with the Fair Work Amendment (Repeal of 4 Yearly Reviews and Other Measures) Bill 2017, hastily adding two amendments which will severely stifle employment growth and smother small businesses across the country, according to ARA executive director Russell Zimmerman.

Mr Zimmerman said Labor’s "underhanded actions" have made a mockery of a fair-minded organisation, the Australian Justice system and taxpayers money.

“Labor have undermined the integrity of the Fair Work Commission, an independent umpire, established by the Labor Government in 2009, to ensure employers across all industries in Australia are treated fairly,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“The ALP have also disregarded Australia’s court system, as the Federal Court agreed with the Commission’s decision to reduce Sunday penalty rates to be in-line with Saturday penalty rates, as this reduction would allow retailers to open their stores for longer, and enable retailers the opportunity to employ more staff on weekends.”

With the Labor Party overlooking the judiciary, and disobeying their own self-governing establishment, Mr Zimmerman said the ARA was confused as to "why Labor formed the Fair Work Commission at all, as it has been costing Australians millions of dollars every year".

“Like the Australian Justice system, the Fair Work Commission was established to serve the best interest of the Australian public, and Labor’s rushed amendments to the Fair Work Amendment Bill 2017 is not only hypocritical, it will have detrimental effects to small and large businesses across Australia,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“The ARA thank the Government on behalf of employees and employers in the retail industry, for supporting small businesses and requesting this amended Bill be heavily examined.”

The ARA believes a moderate reduction, not removal of penalty rates, will increase youth employment within the retail industry, and enable retailers to remain competitive in the 24/7 global marketplace.

“With many retailers across the board unable to open their doors on Sundays, the reduction of penalty rates will enable retailers to look at employing more staff on a Sundays as it is their busiest trading day of the week,” 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 $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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IN HIS BOOK, Destructive Cities, Brian Haratsis, Executive Chairman of MacroPlan Dimasi, presents the concept of destruction/regeneration of cities, with cities renewing themselves continuously.

According to Mr Haratsis, “Destructive/regenerative cities require value creation and capture through institutional reform of infrastructure delivery, evolutionary zoning and taxation regimes that provide incentives for maximum development, mixed-use development and place making, which maximises social innovation and economic outcomes.”

He notes that “these outcomes are actively prevented in Australia due to the primary philosophies driving urban planning outcomes – protect the short-term value of property, maintain bureaucratic and political control over infrastructure provision and property development, and stick to an uncontroversial garden city planning model”.

Mr Haratsis argues that “Destructive/regenerative city planning would create a new social contract and development outcomes on a long-term basis”.

The House Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Transport and Cities will consider these possibilities and more at a public hearing for its inquiry into the Australian Government’s role in the Development of cities.

Committee Chair, Andrew Wallace MP, said the impact of globalisation is changing the dynamic of urban and regional development in Australia. New economies, new technologies and rapid demographic change demanded new concepts of how cities and regions work and relate to each other.

“A new approach to urban and regional development is required, with an emphasis on collaboration between governments, communities and business to create prosperous, sustainable and liveable urban environments," Mr Wallace said.

Further information on the inquiry, including the full terms of reference, is available on the Committee website.

Public hearing details: 5pm – 6.30pm, Tuesday, 5 December 2017, Committee Room 1R3, Parliament House, Canberra

The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live

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

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DOMESTIC gas supply is set for a boost with Arrow Energy’s announcement of their sales agreement with Shell’s QCLNG for Queensland gas.

Queensland Resources Council (QRC) Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane said Arrow will unlock significant gas reserves in the Surat Basin which will increase supply into the domestic market.

“Today’s announcement brings the scale and infrastructure of LNG production to bear on Arrow’s proven gas reserves. That’s the only way to get this gas out of the ground at an affordable price”, said Mr Macfarlane

“More gas being produced is good news for all gas customers both domestic and export.

“The QRC congratulates Arrow and Shell’s QCLNG on this milestone agreement which again demonstrates that Queensland is leading the way when it comes to working to address the problem of the gas shortage."

The 27 year-year agreement will see Arrow use existing gas pipelines and related infrastructure. The project will create around 1000 new jobs and will benefit every Queenslander through royalties.

“These two companies are here for the long-haul and this agreement will deliver a whole generation of prosperity to the Darling Downs. Long term jobs allow training and supply opportunities to deliver enduring benefits to local communities such as Wandoan, Miles, Chinchilla and Dalby,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“We only hope that the other states follow Queensland’s lead and open up gas reserves to help fix the energy crisis households and businesses, especially manufacturers, along the eastern seaboard are facing.
 

“This one agreement alone will deliver enough extra gas to more than power Queensland’s entire industrial demand every year out to 2047."

QRC’s current data shows that in 2016-17, the state’s gas industry contributed $8.9 billion to the state’s economy and supported 42,938 full-time Queensland jobs.

www.qrc.org.au

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THE Australian Retailers Association (ARA) urge the Senate to oppose Labor’s amendments to the Fair Work Amendment (Repeal of 4 Yearly Reviews and Other Measures) Bill 2017 as this Bill has been developed to improve the flexibility and efficiency of Enterprise Bargaining Agreements (EBA)s.

As retail is the largest single private employer in Australia, employing more than 10 percent of the working population across the country, Russell Zimmerman, Executive Director of the ARA, said it is crucial that the Labor party understands the risk small businesses are under if the proposed amendments are made to this Bill.

“The retail sector continues to face significant cost pressures, and for small businesses to survive this challenging trading environment, retailers need to open for longer hours over the weekend, to meet the demand of today’s consumers,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“The ARA are conscious that many small businesses across Australia are unable to rely on trade during the week as many consumers are at work during retail trading hours.”

The ARA have listened to their members and have identified that many small businesses are unable to afford opening their doors during the weekend.

“If retailers are limited to only opening their doors during the week, many consumers will shift their spending online, leaving our local retailers in the dark,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“For small retailers to compete in such a competitive market, retailers need to be given the opportunity to grow and prosper.”

The Penalty Rates Decision has been ruled by the Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission (FWC) and upheld by five judges of the Federal Court as these independent bodies have identified that the reduction in penalty rates would lessen the strain on Australian retailers, put the unemployed back into the workforce, and increase trading hours across the country.

“Any plan to overturn such a progressive decision in Australian history, will undermine the integrity of the independent umpire, and cause serious negative impacts to the prosperity of small and large businesses across the country,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“It is time for all Senators to put the community first, oppose Labor’s proposed amendments, and ensure the longevity of retail.”

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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