The Executive Director of the Australian Retailers’ Association, Russell Zimmerman, said today the new frontbench arrangements announced by opposition leader Anthony Albanese offered “a new beginning” in the aftermath of the recent federal election, and that the ARA looked forward to working with the opposition.
Commenting on the changes announced by Mr Albanese – in which several business-facing portfolios are to be represented by new shadow ministers during this term of Parliament – Mr Zimmerman said the ARA was looking forward to establishing relationships with these MPs to work together on issues affecting the retail sector.
“On behalf of Australia’s $320bn retail sector, we’d like to congratulate Anthony Albanese on his ascension as Leader of the Labor Party and opposition leader, and all of the members of his new team,” Mr Zimmerman said.
“We seek a productive relationship with Labor to work through issues affecting our members,” he added.
Mr Zimmerman noted Labor’s promise to legislate to reverse penalty rate reductions in retail, hospitality and pharmacy, and said the ARA hoped that with the election out of the way, the ALP would drop the policy.
“It is true we had issues with this policy – which contrived to overturn a decision of an independent umpire – and we’ll continue to advocate in the interests of the thousands of small retailers we represent,” Mr Zimmerman said.
“Our broader objective, however, is a meaningful relationship with Labor that advances the retail sector.”
Mr Zimmerman said that with several new faces in the Albanese shadow ministry – as well as a couple who had switched portfolios – he was confident the ARA could work with the Labor Party to find common ground.
“At the end of the day, Labor represents employees whose jobs are generated in the business sector: this is a basis on which to work together to achieve mutually satisfactory outcomes,” Mr Zimmerman said.
“Now the Labor frontbench has been announced, the ARA will reach out to those shadow ministers whose briefs overlap with our sector and the issues it faces, and we look forward to working together with them and their colleagues over the next three years,” Mr Zimmerman concluded.
Wednesday, 5 June 2019
