Melbourne s Queen Victoria Market. Source: Unsplash/Linda Xu
Industry group leaders have appealed to the government for a boost in urgent support to businesses struggling under the current prolonged lockdowns in Sydney and Melbourne, with calls for the return of JobKeeper, leasing support, and a stimulus package.
Government assistance is urgently needed for businesses in NSW and Victoria, according to the National Retail Association (NRA), Franchise Council of Australia (FCA), and Australian Convenience Stores Association (AACS).
The coalition of peak industry bodies released a statement on Thursday, saying businesses in Australia’s two largest states were ‘desperate’ for additional government support.
Open letter from business organisations seeking urgent action on debit payments
Source: Pexels/Karolina Grabowska.
Ten industry associations representing Australian SMEs have come together to pen this open letter to the federal government, demanding urgent action be taken to avoid higher transaction costs for Australian retailers. The letter is in response to the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) examining whether medium and smaller banks should be able to issue debits cards with one payment scheme on them, instead of two, such as Visa and eftpos.
Australia’s debit payments system is at a critical juncture, and we need urgent action so hundreds of thousands of businesses do not face the cost burden of higher transaction fees in-store and online.
10 business groups band together to seek urgent action on debit payments 25 June 2021
The Australasian Association of Convenience Stores, the Australasian Convenience and Petroleum Marketers Association, the Australian Lottery and Newsagents Association, the Australian Retailers Association, the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia, the Franchise Council of Australia, MGA Independent Retailers, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, the National Retail Association and Restaurant and Catering have penned this open letter, seeking urgent action of debit payments.
Australia’s debit payments system is at a critical juncture, and we need urgent action so hundreds of thousands of businesses do not face the cost burden of higher transaction fees in-store and online.
Changes at the top for lobby group
A WOMAN with a “wealth of experience in trade, investment, tourism and systems of government, and an authentic passion for the Mornington Peninsula as a local resident” has replaced former federal Liberal cabinet minister Bruce Billson on the Committee for Mornington Peninsula.
Zoe McKenzie, who joins the management committee, is principal of Trade and Investment Advisory, a company which advises clients on market expansion into Australia or on current or future free trade agreements.
The Committee for Mornington Peninsula describes itself as an “independent, member-based organisation committed to leading and influencing long-term outcomes and contributing to our strategic objectives for the broader Mornington Peninsula”.