WITH ONLY A WEEK until Easter, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) believe the Easter Bunny won’t be the only one preparing his Easter basket, with retailers across the country stocking their shelves with all sorts of Easter treats.

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

“As this Easter is earlier than last year, Australians will be heading in-store sooner rather than later to buy their seafood as the Sydney Fish Market is expecting to trade more than 650 tonnes of seafood before the big day,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“Fresh food markets and supermarkets aren’t the only ones who will receive crowds of shoppers over the next week as many chocolatiers and bakeries will be also making delicious treats to add to the Easter table.”

Steve Plarre, CEO of Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses, said over 55 percent of last year’s hot cross bun sales came from new flavours and is expecting these sales to grow even higher this year.

“As Easter will arrive two weeks earlier than last year, I believe there will be a slight headwind for sales this year, but these purchases will be outweighed by the solid growth from exciting new hot cross bun flavours”.

With Australians loving their hot cross buns for the past 35 years, Elise Gillespie, joint CEO of Bakers Delight, predicts more than 20 million hot cross buns to be pulled from their ovens this year.

“Easter is one of the highlights of our year, and we are proud that we have been able to play a role in helping Australian families create their own Easter traditions for nearly four decades,” Ms Gillespie said.

As a big chocolate fan, Mr Zimmerman said he will be sure to purchase an Easter Bilby this year to honor the first Haigh’s Chocolate Easter Bilby 25 years ago and support the important work they do to save the Bilby.

“It’s great to see retailers taking initiatives in their corporate social responsibility and listening to consumer concerns, not only generating repeat customers but also increasing consumer loyalty – a crucial element in today’s uncertain trading environment,” Mr Zimmerman said.

About the Australian Retailers Association:

Founded in 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is Australia’s largest retail association, representing the country’s $310 billion sector, which employs more than 1.2 million people. As Australia’s leading retail peak body industry, the ARA is a strong pro-active advocate for Australian retail and 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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TALK of extending the $20,000 instant asset write-off from both major political parties is a positive sign, according to the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA).

The Treasurer has signalled that the $20,000 instant asset write-off will be extended for small business along with a possible increase in the amount that can be claimed, while the Labor Party has indicated the write-off initiative could be extended to all businesses.

“The IPA has long advocated for the write-off initiative for small businesses and we are keen for it to continue as part of the tax regime,” said chief executive officer, Andrew Conway.

“We were relieved by the decision made in last year’s Federal Budget for it to continue up to 30 June 2018 as the reversion to a limit of $1,000 at that time would have been a huge disincentive for many small businesses.

“The increase in the accelerated depreciation write-off threshold to $20,000 has proven to be of great assistance to small business cash flow.

“This initiative brings forward the tax deduction that would have previously been deductible over a number of years.

“What should be kept in focus is the positive impact that this initiative has on the broader economy as it incentivises small businesses to reinvest in their future, making way for growth, employment and prosperity.

“We fully support a higher instant asset write-off becoming a permanent feature of our tax system going forward.  The Henry Review into Australia’s tax system recommended that a higher threshold should apply.

“The need for this initiative to be set in stone, particularly for small businesses, is paramount as it brings an injection of economic growth, giving small businesses the confidence to buy new equipment, reinvest in their operations and grow,” said Mr Conway.

www.publicaccountants.org.au

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PACER Plus, the Pacific Island free trade agreement,  will be examined at a public hearing on Monday by the Federal Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Treaties.

The Australian Government expects PACER Plus to encourage economic growth and social stability in the Pacific region by freeing up trade and investment opportunities.

However, the two largest Pacific Island economies, Papua New Guinea and Fiji, have not signed the agreement.

Committee Chair Stuart Robert MP said while PACER Plus offered many advantages for Pacific Island nations, some issues remain, including why PNG and Fiji decided not to take part.

“PACER Plus presents an opportunity for Pacific Island economies to grow beyond the need for development assistance, but the absence of countries that make up over 80 per cent of the region’s economic capacity is a concern for the Committee,” Mr Robert said.

The Committee will also examine PACER Plus’ impact on Pacific Island government revenues, public health, and business capacity.

Public hearing details: 11.00am – 12.50pm, Monday 26 March 2018, Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra

11.00am:     Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA)
11.30am:     Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network (AFTINET)
12.00pm:     Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
12.50pm:     Close

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

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"THE Fair Work Commission, the independent umpire, has given us a green light to proceed to amalgamate on March 27, and that’s what we will do,” said Michael O’Connor, the presumptive National Secretary of the new Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union.

Early in the month the Fair Work Commission (FWC) approved the amalgamation of the CFMEU, the MUA and the TCFUA, setting the date of amalgamation as March 27. However, employers had appealed the decision and sought a stay on the original decision to approve the amalgamation pending the hearing of their appeal.

The decision on the stay application was handed down this morning by FWC Vice President Hatcher. The stay application was denied. The full appeal will be held on April 9.

TCFUA National Secretary Michelle O’Neil said, “The AMMA and MBA should stop wasting their members money and the Fair Work Commission’s time. Our members voted overwhelmingly to amalgamate, their democratically reached decision needs to be respected. We are getting on with the business of joining with the MUA and CFMEU and improving the lives of our members.”

Mr O’Connor said, “The full executive of the new union will meet in Melbourne on Monday March 26 to set out a detailed plan of work for the first 100 days, taking us to the inaugural Conference of our union on the Gold Coast on June 12 to 15, where nearly 400 delegates will set out a plan and direction for the next two years.”

MUA National Secretary Paddy Crumlin said, “Today we’re calling on both employers and the government to respect and accept the decision of the independent umpire. The decision to amalgamate has been overwhelmingly endorsed by our members and the FWC has, after extensive hearings, approved our amalgamation. It’s time now to move and let us do our business.”

www.fwc.gov.au

www.mua.org.au

www.cfmeu.org.au

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THE Queensland Resources Council (QRC) is calling for nominations for its annual Indigenous Awards to celebrate excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation in the State’s resources sector.

QRC Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane said the Queensland resources sector was providing more jobs and opportunities for Indigenous Australians, as acknowledged in the Closing the Gap report last month.

“The Closing the Gap 2018 update reported 6599 Indigenous Australians were employed by the mining industry and increased by 250 percent since 2006.  The number of non-Indigenous Australians employed in mining had increased by 150 percent over the same period. 

The Closing the Gap report also stated that: “The mining industry itself is employing significantly more Indigenous Australians than previously.  These mining jobs are providing crucial opportunities for employment in regional areas.”

Mr Macfarlane said the 5th annual awards, to be presented during Reconciliation Week in May, provided the opportunity to showcase Indigenous role models and ambassadors for the Queensland resources sector.

QRC is now accepting nominations across six award categories:

•    Indigenous Advocacy Award  |  recognises Indigenous or non-Indigenous individuals that have demonstrated outstanding effort to encourage, promote and advocate for increasing Indigenous participation within the resources sector
•    Exceptional Indigenous Person in Queensland Resources Award  |  recognises exceptional achievement by an Indigenous person working with the Queensland resources sector in any occupation or profession
•    Exceptional Indigenous Business in Queensland Resources Award  |  recognises exceptional achievement by an Indigenous business supplying the Queensland resources sector
•    Best Company Indigenous Procurement Initiative Award  |  recognises companies that have developed and maintained strategies that enhance supplier diversity and support increased Indigenous business participation within resources sector supply chains
•    Best Company Indigenous Employment and Training Initiative Award  |  recognises companies that have developed and maintained strategies that enhance the attraction and retention of Indigenous people in the Queensland resources sector
•    Exceptional Indigenous Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy Student Award  |  recognises exceptional achievement by an Indigenous student at a QMEA school who has shown significant promise and passion for a career in the Queensland resources sector.

For more information and to access the nomination forms, click here. 

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SPEAKING today (March 16) at The Tax Institute’s 33rd National Convention in Cairns, Queensland, theDavid Coleman MP, the Assistant Minister for Finance, indicated to delegates that tax policy is a useful lever with which to pursue economic growth.

Following that theme, Tax Institute Senior Tax Counsel Professor Bob Deutsch CTA commented, “Tax policy is critical to the development of the Australian economy. The next Federal election is likely to be a real battle of ideas about which levers of tax policy should be pulled."

The Assistant Minister also told delegates that while the Coalition believes that tax should be as low as possible, tax must be paid at the relevant legislated levels. He said the Government has worked tirelessly to put in place the right legislative framework to ensure that outcome, referencing in particular the Diverted Profits Tax and the Multinational Anti Avoidance law.

Prof. Deutsch also reflected on the Commissioner of Taxation’s earlier message to delegates on the need to build trust, confidence and integrity in the tax system.

"As the Assistant Minister has reminded us this morning, sound tax policy is critically important but this must occur in an environment in which all players are confident in the integrity of the system as mentioned in the Commissioner’s address."

www.taxinstitute.com.au

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THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Kate Carnell, covers the significant achievements of the ASBFEO office as this week marks its second birthday.

“This week is our 2nd birthday. Over that period of time a lot of things have been achieved due to the great work of my wonderful staff and the input of small businesses from around Australia.

“You told us that one of the things upsetting you was big business and governments paying slower and slower. We did a major piece of work and we found that you were right; they are paying slower. The outcome of that has been that the Business Council of Australia has set up a new Code of Practice to encourage big business to pay in 30 days or less, and the Australia Government has announced that they will move to 15 business day payments by the middle of next year.

“We’ve been working with the fintechs, the online lenders, and released a major paper that will make fintech lending more transparent, and by the middle of the year a capacity for small businesses able to compare different fintech offerings so that they can make good decisions if they think fintech lending is the solution for their businesses.

“Please get in touch with our office if you have anything you’d like us to investigate or you’ve got a problem you’d like us to help you solve on your behalf.”

www.asbfeo.gov.au

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The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chief Executive Mark Stone AM urges Melbourne business owners and directors to enrol to vote for the by-election for Lord Mayor.

To be able to vote you must be enrolled by 4pm Friday, March 16, 2018).
 
“It is important that Melbourne business owners and directors enrol so they can have a voice in the election of the Lord Mayor, a position that is vital to the ongoing wellbeing of this city, and it is vital that business has a strong voice in the future of Melbourne,” Mr Stone said.
 
Mr Stone said it was important to enrol if you own or occupy rateable property within the City of Melbourne but live in a different municipality, or if you were appointed as a corporation voting representative for the 2016 council elections and still hold the position of company secretary or director of the corporation.
 
Enrolments can be made via the Victorian Electoral Commission website, vec.vic.gov.au
or on 1300 735 427.

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