Small businesses now able to claim JobMaker hiring credits

SmartCompany, February 3, 2021 Source: Pexels/Ketut Subiyanto. Small businesses can this week begin claiming hiring credits under the federal government’s JobMaker program, with the first quarterly claim period opening on Monday. A key policy of the 2020 federal budget, the JobMaker hiring credits program offers payments to businesses that increase their headcounts by hiring young workers between October 7, 2020, …

Smaller stores face rough weather in major malls

Financial Review, Feb 2, 2021 – 4.11pm More than one-third of retail outlets in the country’s big malls are controlled by smaller, independent players, raising the risk of further store closures as government pandemic assistance programs wind up, according to an analysis by the PAR Group. The analysis of 31 major malls – covering nearly 10,000 tenancies – reveals that …

Labor decides on IR as pre-election battleground

Financial Review, Feb 2, 2021 – 7.50pm Federal Labor has opted for a fight on industrial relations and will oppose the government’s omnibus bill of reforms, a move the government says will result in Labor voting against measures such as criminalising wage theft and terminating workplace agreements left over from WorkChoices. On Tuesday, the Labor caucus resolved unanimously to oppose …

Perth small businesses ‘better prepared’ but fearful The West Australian, 2 February 2021

Imogen van Haagen-Iriks, Founder of 20FIT Australia at her studio in Nedlands, Perth. Credit: Ross Swanborough/The West Australian Some of WA’s small business owners felt they were prepared heading into Perth’s shock five-day lockdown but others are set to bleed $11,000 over the week. The State’s peak business body has warned the shutdown — triggered on Sunday after a hotel quarantine guard tested positive to COVID-19 — would …

Five small business groups urge the ACCC to block Woolworths’ acquisition of PFD Food

SmartCompany, February 2, 2021 Small business groups are urging the competition regulator to block Woolworths’ proposed acquisition of family-run PFD Food Services. In a letter to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) seen by SmartCompany, five food service and retail industry organisations have called on the regulator to stop the $552 million merger, which they say will boost “the …

Employers, unions want consistent vaccine rules in workplaces

Employer groups have expressed concern over liability issues from coronavirus outbreaks once the vaccines begin to be rolled out in top level talks with the federal government and unions. With Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter telling the meeting the federal government would not mandate vaccines in workplaces, it is expected states and territories will decide what industries should have their …

New IR policy, but Labor keeps mum on climate target

Labor Leader Anthony Albanese and new energy spokesman Chris Bowen. Picture: Sean Dav  The Australiaan, January 31, 2021 Opposition energy spokesman Chris Bowen has refused to outline Labor’s 2030 or 2035 emissions reduction targets, as he says the opposition cannot just adopt Scott Morrison’s climate policy. Mr Bowen — who took on the climate change portfolio in Anthony Albanese’s sweeping …

Richard Marles to take over from Brendan O’Connor as Shadow Minister for Small Business

SmartCompany, January 29, 2021 Deputy Leader of the Australian Labor Party Richard Marles will take on the small business portfolio. Source: AAP/James Ross. Deputy Leader of the Australian Labor Party Richard Marles will become the Shadow Minister for Small Business as part of a major reshuffle that also includes changes in other key areas of industry, resources, climate and health. …

Employers push for loaded rates in face of strong union opposition

Financial Review, Jan 28, 2021 Restaurants and cafes have stayed clear of weekend penalty rates in response to Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter’s push for a single-loaded rate in distressed industry awards, while registered clubs are pushing for all-in rates without any requirement to audit them. Hospitality groups put forward their proposals for award flexibility on Thursday as the Australian …