The incumbent Australian Labor Party, led by Anthony Albanese, won re-election in a landslide victory on 3 May, increasing its parliamentary majority.
Australian Retail Council (ARC) CEO Chris Rodwell said that with retail businesses employing one in 10 Australians, the industry needs greater support in a range of areas.
“Retail performance impacts every Australian, and it’s clear that we need strong economic leadership to support the sector through a challenging climate,” he said.
“Alongside the cost-of-living crisis, retailers have battled through years of rising costs – from rent and wages, to energy, insurance, transportation and all kinds of supply chain impacts.
“Retailers are particularly keen for the government to take measures to lift flagging productivity and to see the cost-of-living relief measures flow through to the checkout.”
The ARC was formed due to a merger between the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and the National Retail Association (NRA).
The week before the election, the ARA published a list of key areas that should be prioritised: cost-of-living relief, small business investment, digital innovation, energy transition, and workforce and skills training.
Rodwell also highlighted the impact of US tariffs, recently installed by President Donald Trump.
“In recent months, retailers have also had to come to grips with the impact of the US tariffs,” Rodwell explained.
“This is a huge shock for retailers, exacerbating supply chain and cost pressures. For many, especially smaller retailers, there is limited capacity to absorb these costs. It will be tough for them to stare down the pressure to raise prices in the coming months.
“While we recognise the government has limited options to deal with this volatility in its negotiations with the United States, it does have the capacity to offset impacts by redoubling efforts to reduce the red tape and cost burden of Australian businesses.”
The ARA report also noted several ‘gaps’ which need to be addressed, including retail crime, skilled migration, industrial relations, and energy costs.
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