Retailers & Government work together on plastic bag ban

The National Retail Association and the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection are working closely to ensure that Queensland’s proposed plastic bag ban is implemented with as little inconvenience to retailers and consumers as possible. The state-wide ban on the supply of lightweight plastic shopping bags is due to come into effect on 1 […]

Employer incentives of $20,000 available now in regional QLD

Youth Boost incentives

Don’t miss out! Remember that Queensland employers have an additional incentive to hire local young people this festive season. As announced in early November, the Queensland Government is offering a offering a $20,000 kick-back for regional businesses who hire unemployed youths as part of their Back to Work ‘Youth Boost’ Program. The offer applies to […]

Businesses warned to be wary of counterfeit cash

UPDATE: In the last 24 hours, the National Retail Association has heard from members right across Australia, not just Queensland, with sightings of counterfeit $50 and $100 notes in Victoria and New South Wales. We urge all retailers to inform your staff, read our tips below, and to inform your local police or Crimestoppers should […]

Last days to apply for digital grants

If you’re part of a small business in Queensland, it’s a good time to purchase software and get the training you need to use it. Until 9 December, the Queensland Government is offering small businesses matched funding of up to $10,000 for hardware, software and services as part of its Small Business Digital Grants Program. […]

Retailers throw doors open at 7am for 1st day of extended SEQ trading hours

Retail sales increase

MEDIA RELEASE The National Retail Association (NRA) has ushered in a new era for south-east Queensland retailers, shoppers and workers, on the first day of its landmark extended and harmonised trading hours. NRA CEO Dominique Lamb said the new, relaxed trading hours, which kicked off at 7 this morning after the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission […]

Success for our graduating Gold Coast students

Gold Coast graduates Nov2016

GOLD COAST – SIR20212 Certificate in Retail Services September 2016 intake The NRA Retail Training Centre is delighted to announce that the latest cohort of students on the Gold Coast have received positive results with immediate job outcomes for more than half of the graduates. The NRA, Coles Supermarkets and Help Enterprises have just completed one […]

$20,000 Back to Work ‘Youth Boost’ a boon for regional businesses

Youth Boost incentives

Queensland employers will have an additional incentive to hire local young people this festive season. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced in Parliament today the doubling of the Government’s $10,000 incentive, offering a $20,000 kick-back for regional businesses who hire unemployed youths. “Youth unemployment was unacceptably high in some regions and my Government is redoubling its efforts […]

High demand for trained staff

Over the last 12 months, the NRA has delivered training to over 200 jobseekers through the Skilling Queenslanders for Work program, and we are very pleased to report that almost 50% of these people have found employment in retail. Recently we asked for expressions of interest in hiring trainees from our members, and were overwhelmed […]

Message from the CEO: 17 October 2016

Dominique Lamb CEO National Retail Association

Love it or loathe it – it’s no secret that 90s fashion has been seeping into fashion stores all year. I wonder how many teenage girls even realise they’re dressing exactly like their mums did back in their heyday! But the real irony for south-east Queensland retailers selling out of Rachel’s, Phoebe’s and Monica’s favourite […]

Financial incentives for hiring trainees

Training incentives

Over the last 12 months, the NRA has delivered training to over 200 jobseekers through the Skilling Queenslanders for Work program, and we are very pleased to report that almost 50% of these people have found employment in retail. To encourage business owners to employ people through the program, the Queensland government is offering some […]

QLD 19 OCT: JobShow Sunshine Coast

This week, on Wednesday 19 October, the JobShow expo will be visiting the Sunshine Coast at Queensland TAFE’s Mooloolaba campus. The JobShow is not a traditional careers expo that provides students with information about career options for jobs at some point in the future. The event provides a unique opportunity for retailers to exhibit their […]

Trading hours win for Regional Queensland retailers

IMAGE The National Retail Association has succeeded in its application for a one-off exemption for major stores in regional Queensland to trade on the Boxing Day public holiday this year. In a judgement released today, the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission ordered that stores may trade between 8am and 5pm on the official boxing day holiday. […]

Flat trend continues for retail

According to the latest report from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) for retail trade in July 2016, retail trade figures have continued the flat trend that they finished the 2015-16 financial year with. Seasonally adjusted, retail turnover for July 2016 remained more or less unchanged at 0.0 per cent, which follows a rise of […]

QLD Alert: Changes to Work Health Safety Laws

As a result of the Queensland Government’s “Improving Safety for Queenslanders at Work” Policy, Work Health and Safety laws in Queensland have changed effective 22 October 2015. The amendments to the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 are as follows: WHS entry permit holders allowed to enter a workplace immediately if they suspect a contravention […]

Update: QLD Retail Shop Leases Amendment Bill 1995

The Queensland Government has re-introduced the Retail Shop Leases Amendment Bill again into parliament after the original Bill lapsed when the last election was called. The Bill followed extensive consultation as a part of the statutory review that started in 2013. The NRA was a member of the Reference Group that considered all the proposals […]