Gross Shopping Centre Leases - Gross Inaction - Gross Urgency

Conclusion: JUST DO IT!

Over the last three weeks we have had conversations with a number of retail industry luminaries, Federal and State Governments the concensus is Gross Leases in 2009 makes absolute commercial sense for the Australian Shopping Centre Industry and for Australian retailers.

The message from The RETAiL Alert Group to the Australian Retail Industry, JUST DO IT via COAG.

The push for Harmonised Gross Leases is growing – the benefits of Harmonised Gross Leases are being accepted even by the hard nosed Australian Shopping Centre owners.

We have received a number of calls from retailers’ asking for action – the only association we from whom we have received support, the ARA.

As part of communicating to the new ARA executive team we are raising Harmonised Gross Leases as a priority issue for Tenancy Committee review and action.

As we said last week out of the Four Pillars of Lease Harmonisation Gross Leases Gross Leases has the most support; number two the elimination of sales declaration.

• There is frustration amongst retailers’ that the retail industry associations that represent the specialty chains, medium and SME retailers’ have not combined to force change via the COAG NRTWG (National Retail Tenancy Working Group).

The RETAiL Alert Group has personally conveyed the need to accelerate Harmonised Lease Legislation Reform to the Minister for Small Business and Competition Craig Emerson; the Shadow Minister for Small Business Steve Ciobo; the NSW Minister for Small Business Steve Whan and via email and fax the Minister for De-regulation Lindsay Tanner, State Premiers and relevant State Ministers for Small Business.

We are fortunate that at lease Senators Barnaby Joyce and Nick Xenophon are on the case.

We are getting some movement but in the absence of a coordinated retail sector industry association push a painfully, painfully slow process.

• In the absence of a coordinated retail industry association push on this issue it behoves on individual retailers’ to pressure relevant politicians in their own State forcing Harmonised Retail Lease Legislation Reform change via the COAG NRTWG (National Retail Tenancy Working Group).

• First cab off the rank Gross Leases; second cab off the rank elimination of enforced sales declaration unless by category to an independent National Register third party; open pay as you view for retailers, Shopping Centres, Developers.

The concensus is Gross Leases in 2009 does make absolute commercial sense for the Australian Shopping Centre Industry and for Australian retailers.

The message from The RETAiL Alert Group to the Australian Retail Industry, JUST DO IT via COAG.

Should you required contact details of your State Small Business or Premier contacts or contact details of Federal, Shadow Ministers or Minor Parties including email addresses contact us; email Contacts Harmonised Lease Reform - Gross Leases.

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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