SCIENTISTS on the International Whaling Commission’s Scientific Committee have slammed Japan’s resumption of illegal whaling in the Southern Ocean.

In an open letter published today in the journal Nature, 30 leading scientists condemned the new whale hunt which would see almost 4000 Antarctic minke whales killed over 12 years. 

Darren Kindleysides, Director of the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS), said the letter speaking out about the hunt was testament to the lack of scientific justification for Japan’s whaling program.

“Right now the Japanese whaling fleet is hunting hundreds of Antarctic whales in the name of so-called scientific research," Mr Kindleysides said.

"Japan has resumed whaling despite the 2014 International Court of Justice ruling that Japan's previous Antarctic whaling program was illegal, and the 2015 findings by a panel of independent international legal experts that Japan’s new program again breached international law.

"Japan's new Antarctic whaling program is an outrageous attempt to get around the ruling by the International Court of Justice.

"When the scientists say it isn’t science and the international courts say it isn’t science, killing Southern Ocean whales for research simply can't be justified.

“Having failed both the tests of international law and science, the Australian Government must urgently act to put an end to Japan’s whaling.

“Japan must be held to account for once again illegally whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary under the pretence of ‘scientific research’.

“We urge Australia and other governments to do all they can to persuade Japan to call off this hunt, and to actively consider options for further legal action against Antarctic whaling," he concluded.

www.amcs.org.au

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AUSSIE shoppers are continuing to spend up a storm in the post-Christmas sales, with retailers around the country on track to take $16.8 billion from Boxing Day until January 15, according to figures by the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and Roy Morgan Research.

ARA executive director, Russell Zimmerman, said consumers have embraced the annual post-Christmas and January sales this year, taking the opportunity to stock up on bargains not normally seen at other times of the year.

“While the annual Christmas sales period officially kicked on Boxing Day, we’ve seen shoppers continue their spending frenzy right throughout the period and into the New Year,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“While initially on December 26 we saw bigger ticket items walking off the shelves, now the focus has swapped to soft goods such as apparel and footwear, while household items have also been popular.

“Department stores have also had particularly strong foot traffic, with our figures anticipating a 4.7 percent increase for the category compared to last year,” he said.

Around $1 billion is set to be spent in department stores before January 15, second only in growth to the ‘other’ category, with will grow by 6.1 percent to $2.3 billion.

Food spending, which was boosted last week by shoppers stocking up on food and beverages for New Year’s Eve parties and holiday barbeques is on target to meet an expected $6.8 billion in purchases.

Victoria will see the lion’s share of the post-Christmas shopping growth, up 5.6 percent to $4.2 billion across the 21-day period tracked by ARA and Roy Morgan, followed by NSW at 3.8 percent growth and $5.3 billion.

“It’s great to see shoppers out in force at retail stores, in what is typically the busiest spending period of the year,” Mr Zimmerman said.

ARA ROY MORGAN POST-CHRISTMAS 2015/16 SALES PREDICTIONS

December 26, 2015 – January 15, 2016

2015/16 Post-Christmas Sales Growth by State

(ARA/ROY MORGAN)

2015/16 Post-Christmas Sales Growth by Category

(ARA/ROY MORGAN)

About the Australian Retailers Association:

Founded in 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is the retail industry’s peak representative body representing Australia’s $284 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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SCHOOL School shoes, backpacks, stationery and lunchbox purchases will increase in frequency from this week, as Australian parents prepare school aged children for the new school year, according to the Australian Retailers Association (ARA).

The peak industry body representing Australian retailers says that as Boxing Day markdowns become fewer later in the month, the focus in stores and shopping precincts will switch to school supplies, providing apparel, footwear, department stores, newsagents and a myriad of other specialty retail traders a boost.

“While Christmas and Boxing Day sales are most definitely the busiest times for retail stores across the board, there are certain retailers, such as children’s footwear shops and uniform sellers that derive the bulk of their business from back to school sales,” said ARA Executive Director, Russell Zimmerman.

“Back to school is a milestone each year for students around the country, and the associated purchases that the new school year brings are crucial to many small and large retailers.”

Among the items on parents’ shopping lists are stationery items including pens, notebooks and folders; lunchboxes and cooler bags; school shoes, including sports shoes; uniforms, including socks and sun protection; backpacks and bags; and tablets and laptops.

The ARA has seen more back to school purchases being carried out online in the last few years, and doesn’t expect 2016 to be any different.

“Parents are increasingly turning to e-tail to prepare their children with the equipment they need for the start of school. With many parents now back at full or part time work following the Christmas break, e-commerce provides convenience and flexibility to purchase all the necessities students require.

“With the increased use of technology in our education system, back to school sales in 2016 will also provide a significant windfall for electronics retailers and sellers of laptops, tablets and other electronic learning accessories.

“Electronics retail is an incredibly price competitive space with lean margins, so this boost is very much welcomed by stores in the space. The administration and receivership of Australian retail icon, Dick Smith, last week is a testament to the pricing pressures within the industry,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“Of course, back to school spending does not mean the end of the post-Christmas January sales, we’ll see those discounts continuing right throughout the month, with most stores still offering significant savings across the board.

“The next big discounting period after January will be mid-year sales in June, so I would encourage shoppers to make sure they don’t miss out,” said Mr Zimmerman.

The ARA and Roy Morgan Research predicted that Australian shoppers spent $16.8 billion post-Christmas, in the period from December 26, 2015 to January 15, 2016.

About the Australian Retailers Association:

Founded in 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is the retail industry’s peak representative body representing Australia’s $284 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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INSTITUTE of Public Accountants (IPA) chief executive officer, Andrew Conway has been appointed as chairperson of the Professional Accountancy Organisation Development Committee (PAODC) of the Confederation of Asian and Pacific Accountants (CAPA) for the next three year term.

The PAODC, a committee under the auspices of CAPA has a mandate to promote and facilitate the establishment and strengthening of professional accountancy organisations in support of the public interest.

“On behalf of the IPA Board of Directors, I would like to congratulate Andrew for this important appointment,” said IPA president, Wendy Leegel.

“The IPA is very committed to the objectives of CAPA and to supporting the development of the profession in our region. 

“The IPA is very proud of Andrew’s achievements and his contribution to global leadership and governance within the profession,” said Ms Leegel.

About the Institute of Public Accountants

The IPA, formed in 1923, is one of Australia’s three legally recognised professional accounting bodies.  In late 2014, the IPA acquired the Institute of Financial Accountants in the UK and formed the IPA Group, with more than with more than 35,000 members and students in over 65 countries.  The IPA is a member of the International Federation of Accountants, the Accounting Professional and Ethical Standards Board and the Confederation of Asian and Pacific Accountants.  The IPA was recognised in 2012 as Australia’s most innovative accounting organisation and listed in the top 20 in the 2012 BRW Most Innovative Companies List. 

www.publicaccountants.org.au

ENDS