Retail Sector Competition Reform now under Craig Emerson Minister for Small Business; GOOD MOVE!

We have congratulated Craig Emerson Minister for Small Business on ‘winning’ of additional responsibilities from the recent Rudd government re-shuffle.

For the Rudd government, a smart move; small business is the Achilles heel for the Rudd government moving towards the next election.

With the combined portfolios of Small Business, Independent Contractors and the Service Economy, Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs there is an opportunity to commence reform, change the complexion and balance of competition within the retail sector before the next election.

It is up to each retailer to lift the pressure on the Minister to make sure that this is not another Hollowman exercise of seeming to do something but delivering nothing.

On behalf of  Australian specialty chains, medium and SME Retailers’ The RETAiL Alert Group has alerted Minister Emerson on the urgent need to address Competition Reform within the Australian retail sector.

The short list was spoken to in last week’s bulletin;

Australian Shopping Centre retailers are infuriated that Australia had a Productivity Commission Shopping Centre Review that failed through lack of political courage and an ineffective ACCC.

1.       We currently have a Federal government Creeping Acquisitions inquiry with retail in mind.

2.       There is the NSW government into Planning talking to retail competition;

3.       There is a push through the Blacktown amendment with Shopping Centres in their sights to address the competition issues within Shopping Centres.

4.       The ARA looks as though it is now back taking an active role in retail tenancy in Australia’s Shopping Centre practices.

5.       The COAG States Tenancy Reform Group charged to deliver Harmonised retail legislation reform.

All of this ‘noise’ showing one thing; an ineffectual Competition regulator for the Australian retail sector, the ACCC; after a honeymoon period we now hold the Rudd government accountable.

We stated last week that in our view the current competition imbalance in Australian Shopping Centres between major retailers and Australia’s disadvantaged specialty chains, medium and SME retailers.

This should be top of the list for Federal and State Small Business, Competition and De-regulation Ministers.

First four cabs off the rank for Minister Emerson are Tenancy Reform, Shopping Hours and Awards Harmonisation the Blacktown amendment and Creeping Acquisitions Obligation to Divest Competition Reform.

This week’s announcement that Kevin Rudd is setting up the Small Business Advisory Committee to advise government?

Minister Emerson is going to be real busy…..!

We will be watching Minister Emerson’s strategy on Competition Reform on your behalf; hopefully reporting on genuine retail sector Competition Reform progress very soon.

Email comments to Minister Emerson Retail Sector Competition Reform.

Tony Standley

Principal
The RETAiL Alert Group (Australia)
Mobile +61 (0)41 924 0497
e-mail info@adsass.com.au
Fax +61 (0)2 9987 0633
Website http://www.retailalert.com.au
 
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