Peak retail industry body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) yesterday submitted to the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Green Paper calling on the Rudd Government to recognise retailers as high energy users and accurately calculate price impacts on consumers.ARA Executive Director Richard Evans said it is irresponsible for the Government to move forward to implement an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) with ideological haste when they are failing to provide accurate analysis around the price... ...Read more »

The GROCERYchoice website continues to come under attack, with independent supermarkets, the Federal Opposition and leading retail industry bodies all indicating a lack of support for the scheme. The site, which highlights to consumers the cost of certain baskets of goods at different grocery chains in their area, has been criticised as a “stunt”, “unfair” and too “broad” by some sections, but the Federal Government continues to defend the website. As a host of... ...Read more »

Peak retail body, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA), has urged the Rudd Government not to ‘wash their hands’ of the issue of grocery prices and look at other avenues to reduce costs for retailers - in particular - occupancy costs. ARA’s Executive Director, Richard Evans, said while petrol prices are obviously having an effect on the cost of goods going to market, the Rudd Government has been slow to release the Productivity Commission’s report on retail leasing... ...Read more »

The Shopping Centre Council of Australia has refuted claims that Australia’s planning laws are to blame for high grocery prices. The argument comes following the announcement last month by the Government that foreign retailers would be allowed an extra four years to develop a site for one of their retail outlets. Changes to legislation were met with some positivity as concerns about competition in Australia with regard to grocery prices has been very high and has led to an ACCC inquiry.... ...Read more »