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Recognising Remarkable Retailers: 2017 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards

THE Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is calling all retailers to put themselves forward to be recognised 2017 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards.

As Australia’s first and largest national retail awards program, the ARA Awards have celebrated Australia’s leading retailers for over 40 years. The 2017 program boasts a collection of awards representing the breadth of talent and achievement in the ever-changing retail landscape.

ARA Executive Director, Russell Zimmerman, eagerly anticipates the event held on August 3rd at The National Gallery of Victoria, and believes it will be the biggest and most popular event to date.

“Retailing is an exceptionally important sector for the Australian economy, and this event is a great platform for forward-thinking retailers to share their inspiring success stories and gain industry insights from esteemed guest speakers.

“Retail plays a vital role in the daily lives of all Australians and the ARA is proud to acknowledge the achievement and talent of the passionate retailers that are the heart and soul of the industry,” Mr Zimmerman said.

Major event sponsor, eftpos, is excited to support the ARA Awards for a fourth consecutive year. “Retail is a vital part of the Australian economy and it’s important that we recognise the industry’s ongoing contribution through these awards,” eftpos Managing Director, Bruce Mansfield said.

The ARA has this year reimagined the selection process and worked with distinguished industry experts to determine what constitutes the ‘best in retail’ in the evolving retail sector.

“The Awards span 12 categories reflecting the diversity of Australian retail – from independent owner-operators, to national brands, industry innovators, outstanding staff and exceptional store-fitouts.” Mr Zimmerman said.

“The coveted ‘2017 Retailer of the Year Award’ is by far the one of hardest to critique, with the extraordinary calibre of leading Australian retailers in the field. I’m glad I’m not on the judges’ panel, they have their work cut out.”

The ARA encourages all retailers to submit an entry or nominate an exceptional retail employee before June 23 at www.australianretailawards.com.au.

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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Sentiment split in April retail trade figures

THE Australian Retailers Association (ARA) said April’s modest retail trade growth of 3.08 percent year-on-year released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) brings some relief for food retailers whilst other parts of the sector continue to struggle.

ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said although April’s growth figure is quite modest, the past few months have been difficult for the industry as they continue to face a challenging operating environment.

The industry continues to demonstrate real weakness in discretionary spend categories with Household Goods (0.67%), Hardware & Building (-0.95%) and Electrical Good Retailing (-0.33%) showing signs for concern.

“As the retail sector is experiencing economic transformation, we continue to see some parts of the industry struggling.” Mr Zimmerman said.

Despite this broader industry decline, the ARA have seen strong signs of growth for categories including Food retailing (4.29%), Liquor (7.31%) and Takeaway Food Services (6.16%). Cafés and Restaurants have also picked up since March, showing a 4.19% growth year-on-year due to family-based festivities over the Easter long weekend.

“With a number of public holidays in April, consumers enjoyed their time out at cafés and bars with friends and family, especially over the Easter period,” Mr Zimmerman said.

In regards to state categories, Victoria (4.19%), Queensland (4.05%) and South Australia (4.00%) take the lead with solid year-on-year growth figures. Australian Capital Territory (3.73%), Tasmania (2.76%) and New South Wales (2.60%) also showed moderate to good increases for the period. While Western Australia (-0.05%) and Northern Territory (0.61%) illustrate a less positive growth trend.

“There has been a significant change in consumer spending habits as the Government’s tax increases after the Budget have proved counterproductive to retail growth and consumers are holding onto their pockets tightly,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“It is clear the Australian retail industry is going through a structural change, and it will only become stronger once growth returns to the sector.

“We’re hoping to see a spike in discretionary spend when mid-year sales hit in June, and look forward to seeing the whole industry receive a strong trade in May.”

MONTHLY RETAIL GROWTH (March 2017– April 2017 seasonally adjusted) 

 
Household goods retailing (0.35%), Other retailing (0.56%), Food retailing (1.19%), Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (0.27%), Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (1.12%) and Department stores (2.47%).

Northern Territory (1.79%), South Australia (1.11%), Australian Capital Territory (0.91%), Victoria (1.02%), Tasmania (1.18%), Western Australia (0.43%), New South Wales (0.12%) and Queensland (2.41%).

Total sales (0.95%).  

 

YEAR-ON-YEAR RETAIL GROWTH (April 2016 – April 2017 seasonally adjusted)

Household goods retailing (0.67%), Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (5.01%), Food retailing (4.29%), Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (0.27%), Other retailing (3.67%) and Department stores (0.13%).

New South Wales (2.60%), South Australia (4.00%), Tasmania (2.76%), Victoria (4.19%), Australian Capital Territory (3.73%), Western Australia (-0.05%), Queensland (4.05%) and Northern Territory (0.61%).

Total sales (3.08%). 

 

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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Cybersecurity hearing in Canberra

THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit will hold a hearing for its Inquiry into Cybersecurity Compliance based on the Auditor-General’s report No. 42 (2016-17) Cybersecurity Follow-up Audit on Friday, June 2, in Canberra.

Committee Chair Senator Dean Smith said the JCPAA is interested to hear how the audited agencies are improving their cyber resilience.

“With an increasing threat of cyber intrusions, it is more important than ever that Government agencies are cyber resilient,” Senator Smith said.

Compliance with the Government’s mitigation strategies is an important step for agencies to protect their systems and secure the continued delivery of Government business.

The Australian Signals Directorate has a list of strategies to assist agencies to achieve cybersecurity resilience and at least 85 percent of targeted cyber intrusions would be prevented if the top four strategies were fully implemented.

The Auditor-General found the Australian Taxation Office and Department of Immigration and Border Protection had not implemented the top four strategies since they were last audited.

The Committee will hear from witnesses from both Departments at the hearing.

Public hearing details: 8.30am – 10.30 am, Friday 2 June, Committee Room 1R1, Parliament House, Canberra

A copy of the full hearing program can be found at the Committee's website.

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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Call for local voices on agricultural water use

WATER use efficiency is a key issue for Australia’s agriculture sector, and a House of Representatives inquiry is keen to hear from local voices with opinions on the subject.

The House Agriculture and Water Resources Committee is investigating the adequacy and efficacy of water use efficiency programs in Australian agriculture.

Committee Chair Rick Wilson MP says the Committee is seeking feedback from farmers, irrigators and community leaders around Australia, but is particularly keen to hear from people in South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania.

“Australian farmers are amongst the world’s most efficient irrigators, particularly due to the often harsh Australian climate,” Mr Wilson said.

“Given the challenges of a dry climate, management of water usage is more important than ever.”

The inquiry is looking at how the Government can invest in water infrastructure in order to assist farmers and communities to extract the maximum value out of each drop of water.

Mr Wilson and Committee Deputy Chair Meryl Swanson MP recently joined About the House TV to discuss the inquiry’s findings so far.

Making a submission to the inquiry is easy – visit aph.gov.au/wue and click ‘Upload Submission’, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

People interested in the inquiry can also subscribe to the About the House Newsletter, to receive fortnightly news about this and other inquiries conducted by the House of Representatives. 

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

Click here to watch a video on this topic on YouTube.

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ABS: Trend dwelling approvals rise 0.8pc in March

THE number of dwellings approved in Australia rose 0.8 per cent in March 2017, in trend terms, after falling for nine months, according to data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today.
Dwelling approvals increased in March in New South Wales (3.0 per cent), Tasmania (1.6 per cent), Queensland (0.5 per cent) and Victoria (0.3 per cent), but decreased in the Northern Territory (19.1 per cent), Australian Capital Territory (7.1 per cent), Western Australia (1.9 per cent) and South Australia (0.1 per cent) in trend terms.
In trend terms, approvals for private sector houses fell 0.6 per cent in March. Private sector house approvals fell in Queensland (2.0 per cent), South Australia (0.4 per cent) and Victoria (0.3 per cent), but rose in New South Wales (0.3 per cent) and Western Australia (0.1 per cent).
In seasonally adjusted terms, dwelling approvals decreased by 13.4 per cent in March, driven by a fall in total dwellings excluding houses (22.0 per cent) and total house approvals (5.0 per cent).
The value of total buildings approved rose 0.1 per cent in March, in trend terms, after falling for seven months. The value of residential building approved rose 1.0 per cent while non-residential building approved fell 1.9 per cent.
Further information is available in Building Approvals, Australia (cat no. 8731.0) on the ABS website at http://www.abs.gov.au.

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QRC CEO Ian Macfarlane laments the New Acland court decision

THE Queensland Resources Council is "very disappointed" by the Queensland Land Court decision to reject New Hope’s Stage 3 New Acland coal mine expansion project.

That was the statement issued today by Queensland Resources Council (QRC) chief executive Ian Macfarlane.

Given the rigorous government assessment processes the project has already passed, including examination by the Independent Expert Scientific Committee as part of the federal government’s approval earlier this year, the decision today by the Land Court is surprising.

This project is vital to the Darling Downs and would create up to 260 construction jobs and ongoing direct employment of up to 435 jobs and indirectly 2,300, worth about $12 billion in economic benefits over the life of the project.

Such a significant amount of job losses will have devastating flow-on effects to such a small community and the surrounding businesses that rely on the mine.

The New Acland Stage 3 Project has been in limbo for 10 years, including spending the last 18 months in the Land Court, spearheaded by the taxpayer-funded Environmental Defenders Office (EDO).  

www.qrc.org.au

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MDBA to appear at water use efficiency hearing

THE House Agriculture and Water Resources committee will hold a public hearing in Canberra on Thursday, 1 June for its inquiry into water use efficiency in Australian agriculture.

The Committee will hear from the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.

Public hearing details: 12:15pm - 1:30pm, Thursday 1 June, Committee Room 1R2, Parliament House

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

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

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Discussing the future of electricity networks

THE House of Representatives Environment and Energy Committee will hear from Energy Networks Australia on Thursday at a public hearing for the inquiry into modernising Australia’s electricity grid.

The Chair of the Committee, Andrew Broad MP, said the Committee was looking forward to hearing about the changing role of transmission and distribution networks in the grid.

“The Committee is keen to hear how network businesses are adapting to the transition underway in the electricity system, and whether further changes are required to ensure that the system can deliver secure, affordable, and sustainable electricity into the future,” Mr Broad said.

The Deputy Chair of the Committee, Mr Pat Conroy MP, said the Committee would also be interested in hearing about the potential for transmission and distribution networks to reduce costs for consumers.

“The Committee is aware that network costs make up about half of the average electricity bill. The hearing is an opportunity for the Committee to discuss how a modern grid can achieve better outcomes for households and businesses,” Mr Conroy said.

As part of the inquiry, the Committee is encouraging members of the community to share their views on the electricity system via an online questionnaire.

Further information about the inquiry, including a submission from Energy Networks Australia, is available on the inquiry website, at www.aph.gov.au/moderngrid.

 

Public hearing details: 10:00 am – 10:45 am, Thursday 1 June 2017, 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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Securing the future of Australian and children’s screen content

THE Turnbull  Government has today released terms of reference for a review into Australian  and children's screen content.

The review was  announced as part of the Government's comprehensive package of reforms to  support Australia's broadcasting sector.

The objective  is to provide policy options to Government on the most effective support  mechanisms for the Australian production sector. Specifically, mechanisms to  support Australian drama, documentary and children's content and the Australian  Screen Production Incentive will be reviewed.

The review will  be jointly conducted by the Department of Communications and the Arts, the  Australian Communications and Media Authority and Screen Australia to leverage  the expertise in all three organisations. It is expected to conclude by the end  of 2017.

The Government  invites contributions to the review. More information, including the terms of  reference, is available at: www.communications.gov.au/contentreview.

Further information on the Government's package  of reforms for supporting the broadcasting sector is available at: www.communications.gov.au/bcrp

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Business Forum 2017: How conscious capitalism creates flourishing communities

FORMER Whole Foods Market Co-CEO Walter Robb leads a discussion in Sydney next week, on how conscious capitalism creates thriving businesses, and flourishing communities.

Mr Robb led with this philosophy, as he helped the retail grocer to unprecedented growth - rising from 12 stores to 464, across three countries.

The principle of conscious capitalism is about instilling your business with a purpose, and thinking beyond your organisation and making decisions based on the community, employees and all stakeholders.

Walter Robb will headline Day Two of Business Forum 2017, which is being run by Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. 

“I think purpose is the ultimate why question. Both for an individual and a company, it gets to the heart of why you’re even here,” said Mr Robb.

The forum is looking at the business case for Purpose Beyond Profit and will be a gathering of leaders in innovation, disruption and change.

Jeana Abbott, CA ANZ’s Head of Education, said, “just like technology, business is evolving and the sole purpose of an organisation needs to be about more than just profit.

“In this changing environment, many businesses struggle to survive if they don’t connect with their communities.

“This forum is bringing together leaders from around the world to discuss how you make that connection happen.

“It’s about coming up with a model which serves your business, your community, employees, and investors.”

The conversation will also be led by Brazil-based President of Semco, Ricardo Semler, who’s become famous for restructuring relationships with staff, to empower employees and drive performance.

Organisational development consultant and author, Zach Mercurio, will explain why it’s important to clarify, develop and instill a purpose within your business.

Simon Griffiths, social entrepreneur and founder of Who Gives A Crap, will detail the ten lessons learnt from purpose-driven product implementation.

Hundreds are expected to attend the two-day forum which will be held in Sydney on June 5 and 6, and in Auckland on June 8 and 9.

For more information on the full list of speakers, and package prices, visit charteredaccountantsanz.com/businessforum. Join the conversation #businessforum17.

Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand represents 119,000 financial professionals.

 

Visit charteredaccountantsanz.com/businessforum.

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Think a contract unfair? See your accountant

THE Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) has voiced its support for the small business ombudsman’s warning to the big four banks in relation to their responsibilities under unfair contracts legislation.

“While the IPA was pleased with the passing of unfair contract legislation which has been in place since November last year, much work is required to enforce current practices which still see unfair clauses in contracts with small business,” said IPA chief executive officer, Andrew Conway.

“Our advice to any small business, that is uncertain or feels that a contract that they are entering contains unfair terms, is see your public accountant.

“Similarly, we are urging our members to speak to their small business clients and businesses to review all contracts, including those with banks and other lending institutions,” said Mr Conway.

Contracts can relate to the supply or hire of goods, services or financial products.  Examples of contract terms that may be found to be unfair include terms that allow one party at their discretion to change the fees being paid or to change terms and conditions without telling the other party; terms that allow one party to terminate the contract but not the other party; or terms that penalise one party for breaching or terminating the agreement but not the other party. 

“Quite often in these scenarios, one party has greater bargaining power than the other, and it is a case of ‘take it or leave it’, whether you are dealing with a bank or your local gym,” said Mr Conway

publicaccountants.org.au

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