THE Australian Retailers Association (ARA) Executive Director Russell Zimmerman paid tribute to outgoing Myer CEO Bernie Brookes following the announcement of his retirement today.

“I have had the privilege of working alongside Bernie and Myer throughout my time leading the retail industry’s peak body. Bernie has always been a strong team player in the retail industry and has dedicated much of his time to benefit the retail sector within his role,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“Bernie is an outstanding individual at both a professional and personal level and I thank him for his commitments."

The ARA also congratulated incoming Myer CEO Richard Umbers who has had a long relationship with the ARA dealing with key industry issues.

“Richard Umbers has already been an outstanding leader within the retail sector and I look forward to working closely with him and Myer to deliver the exciting opportunities our sector can bring,” 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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PARLIAMENT's Joint Public Accounts and Audit Committee (JCPAA) will conduct a public hearing to examine the joint Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) and Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) Major Projects Report (MPR) 2013-14.

Having opened the inquiry into the MPR on 18 December 2014, the Committee will now examine witnesses from the Department of Defence, the DMO and the ANAO in order to investigate further the issues raised by the report.

Committee Chair, Dr Andrew Southcott MP, said that major Defence equipment projects remain the subject of considerable parliamentary and public interest, in view of their high cost, contribution to national security and the challenges involved in completing them within budget, on time and to the required level of capability.

“This is the seventh MPR produced by the ANAO and DMO and the Committee remains committed to seeing that, when it comes to Defence procurement, Australian tax-payers’ money is being spent wisely,” Dr Southcott said.

“The JCPAA’s on-going work has been very important in the MPR’s development.  Our efforts actively contribute to greater efficiencies in terms of current Defence projects as well as helping inform government on the best way to approach new Defence acquisitions, such as the Future Submarine project.”

Further information about the Committee’s inquiry, including details on how to lodge a submission, are available on the Committee’s website at: www.aph.gov.au/jcpaa.

Details for the hearings are as follows:
Date and time Friday, 27 February 2015, 9.30am – 11.30am
Venue:  Committee Room 1R2, Parliament House, Canberra.

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FEDERAL PARLIAMENT’s Public Accounts Committee has presented its report on five Australian National Audit Office reports from 2013-14:

• Audit Report No. 42, Screening of International Mail
• Audit Report No. 43, Managing Compliance with Environment Protection and   Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Conditions of Approval
• Audit Report No. 48, Administration of the Australian Business Register
• Audit Report No. 50, Cyber Attacks: Securing Agencies’ ICT Systems
• Audit Report No. 52, Multi-Role Helicopter Program

Committee Chair Dr Andrew Southcott MP said that these are significant areas of public administration where the public and the Parliament want to see improved outcomes. They also involve important issues of public safety and security.

“Two key themes emerging from these reports were the importance of agencies taking an appropriate risk based approach and also, where appropriate, working cooperatively with other agencies and stakeholders to achieve common objectives,” Dr Southcott said.

The Committee’s report includes recommendations directed at:

• Australian Customs and the Department of Agriculture reviewing methods of screening international mail to ensure Australia conforms to international best practice, and strengthening cooperative arrangements with other countries regarding identification of illicit firearm shipments
• Commonwealth agencies achieving full compliance with required strategies and controls in the Australian Signal Directorate’s Information Security Manual, and increased scrutiny of this area
• increased scrutiny of the Department of Environment’s management of the EPBC Act compliance framework and new one-stop-shop arrangements, and improved performance reporting in this area
• the Department of Defence and the Defence Materiel Organisation publishing annual figures on Australian industry content in their acquisition and sustainment contracts
• the Australian Taxation Office and partner agencies working more closely together to reduce entry points for business interactions with government through the Australian Business Register, and providing more efficient registration and reporting mechanisms

Copies of the report and further information about the inquiry can be accessed via the Committee’s website at: www.aph.gov.au/jcpaa.

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THE Australian Retailers Association (ARA) Executive Director Russell Zimmerman today said NSW retailers were worried about higher taxes and underdevelopment of infrastructure proposed by State Labor.

Today NSW ARA member Judith McDonald met with NSW Treasurer Andrew Constance in her Parramatta store to tell the Treasurer small retailers wanted tax cuts and better infrastructure.

“Our NSW members appreciate NSW Labor is trying to come up with policies however, the rushed unconsidered announcements we are see being made weeks before the election will only damage small business and retailers in NSW through higher business taxes and less infrastructure being built,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“I am relieved we have a state government cutting business taxes and building better roads,” Judith McDonald said while at her Parramatta dive store.

“I have worked with NSW retailers for years trying to get taxes cut and better roads, now we could see that all reversed”, Ms McDonald said.

Meanwhile Russell Zimmerman said he would be encouraging small business and retailers to vote for any party who stood for lower business taxes, better roads and better trains.

“We have more happening in NSW since the early 2000s along with better retail sales in NSW than any other State and I would hate to see all of that go by the wayside,” Mr Zimmerman said.

The NSW ARA would be asking Mr Foley’s NSW Labor to reverse these bad announcements and explain what they will do to help business.

“The ARA has met with Treasurer Constance and Premier Baird whom have explained their pro business and retail policies, we are now waiting for NSW Labor to do the same," 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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