PC report recommends cutting Sunday penalty rates
The Productivity Commission has recommended reducing Sunday penalty rates for entertainment, hospitality and retail workers in its review of the industrial relations system. In its final report to government, the...
APA, ABA agree to work towards 14/14 day PIR timeframe
As reported in a Bookseller+Publisher Special Bulletin on Tuesday 15 May, the Australian Publishers Association (APA) and the Australian Booksellers Association (ABA) have reached an agreement to work towards reducing...
Government to establish Retail Council in response to PC inquiry; taskforce to look at parcel processing
The federal government has announced that it will establish the Retail Council of Australia in response to the Productivity Commission's final report in its public inquiry into the Economic Structure...
Productivity Commission releases draft report on retail inquiry; recommends ‘conditional move’ to lower GST threshold
The Productivity Commission has released a draft report on its public inquiry into the Economic Structure and Performance of the Australian Retail Industry. The report, which is available online here,...
Productivity Commission releases draft report on retail inquiry; recommends ‘conditional move’ to lower GST threshold
The Productivity Commission has released a draft report on its public inquiry into the Economic Structure and Performance of the Australian Retail Industry. The report, which is available online here,...
Visa ‘can’t perform function’ of collecting GST for government on overseas purchases
Global payments company Visa has told the Productivity Commission that it is not in a position to collect goods and services tax (GST) revenue on goods purchased outside of the...
Australia Post making ‘a substantial loss’ delivering overseas parcels
Australia Post has confirmed that it 'incurs a substantial loss' on the processing of inbound international parcels. In a submission to the Productivity Commission Retail Inquiry, Australia Post estimated that...
REDgroup highlights online growth in submission to Productivity Commission; More than 90 submissions received
REDgroup Retail has highlighted the growth in online bookselling and the pressure faced by Australian retailers in its submission to the Productivity Commission's public inquiry into the Economic Structure and Performance...
Productivity Commission releases retail inquiry issues paper
The Productivity Commission has released an issues paper to assist interested parties in making submissions to its inquiry into the Australian retail industry. The Commission is seeking public submissions to...
Booksellers, retail associations welcome new Productivity Commission inquiry
Bookselling and retailing organisations welcomed the Federal Government announcement in December that the Productivity Commission will conduct an inquiry into the future of the Australian retail sector in 2011. The Government said...
Booksellers, retail associations welcome new Productivity Commission inquiry
Bookselling and retailing organisations have welcomed the Federal Government announcement over the weekend that the Productivity Commission will conduct an inquiry into the future of the Australian retail sector next...
PIR debate: Dymocks calls for booksellers summit
Dymocks CEO Don Grover is calling for a booksellers meeting to discuss and launch a campaign for reform to the industry, following the Government's rejection last week of the Productivity Commission's...
Quote of the week
‘I think it's a shame that a minister makes comments such as "go buy your books overseas"'--Australian Publishers Association CEO Maree McCaskill, responding to comments by Consumer Affairs Minister Craig Emerson,...
Parallel importation decision: no change to current legislation
As reported in a WBN special bulletin this morning, Competition Minister Craig Emerson has announced ‘the Government has not accepted the Productivity Commission's recommendation to remove the parallel importation restrictions'...
Parallel importation decision: no change to current legislation
The government has made a decision to maintain Australia's current parallel importation legislation. A press release from Competition Minister Craig Emerson's office states: 'The Government has decided not to change...
Parallel importation decision: no change to current legislation
The government has made a decision to maintain Australia's current parallel importation legislation. A press release from Craig Emerson's office states: 'The Government has decided not to change the Australian...
Quote of the week
‘Well, we'll just start drinks early I guess'--Australian Campus Booksellers Association (ACBA) president Graeme Connolly after a presentation on the parallel importation debate failed to draw as many questions as...
Decision on PIRs deferred again
The book industry could be waiting until at least 24 November for a government decision on the Productivity Commission's recommendations to remove Australia's parallel importation restrictions (PIRs) on books, after...
Industry awaits caucus decision on Productivity Commission recommendations
Caucus was today due to consider a motion by the Federal Member for Bendigo Steve Gibbons that the recommendations of the Productivity Commission to open the Australian book market be dismissed....
Parallel importation: ABA continues push for ‘some reform’; Dymocks prepared to support compromise
As the trade continues to wait for a Labor cabinet decision on the recommendations of the Productivity Commission, booksellers have continued their push for a compromise plan. The Australian Booksellers Association...