A SEAT AT THE TABLE: COVID-19
NATIONAL
As consumers, it’s natural to want to know what stores are doing to maintain supplies and how businesses are adapting to meet our needs during COVID-19. Jos de Bruin, CEO of Master Grocers Australia, represents businesses on the frontline, and was the go-to-expert to answer News Corp readers’ questions about the future of retail, store closures, food supply and safety when shopping – and of course the availability of toilet rolls. Credit Source: News Corp / Daily Telegraph.
• NSW – Treasury NSW Business Stimulus Task Force
• NSW – Minister for Transport
Andrew Constance – COVID-19 Transport Plan
• Victoria – Small Business Ministers Survival Round Table
• Victoria – Small Business Ministers Commercial and Retail Rent Relief Group
• Victoria – States Business Recovery Task Force
• Queensland – Small Business Champion - Small Business Advisory Council
• Queensland – Minister Kate Jones
– COVID-19 home delivery strategy
• Queensland – Premiers Business Recovery Group
• South Australia – Treasurers Workers Comp – COVID-19 consultations
• Federal – National Supermarket
Task Force: various subcommittees – food supply, logistics, home deliveries, safety for staff and customers
• Federal – Minister Michaelia
Cash & Prime Minister’s Office – supermarkets, liquor stores and timber and hardware businesses being able to stay open and be regarded as essential Other COVID-19 related meetings include:
• Federal – ACCC Chairman Rod Sims and Deputy Chairman
Mick Keogh re Interim Authorisations and subsequent unfair competition practices by large chains during the pandemic period.
• Federal – MGA and TMA is a member and Director of the Council of Small Business Organisations (COSBOA)
• COSBOA meetings included
engaging with Josh Frydenberg – Treasurer, Chris Jordan - ATO Commissioner, Deborah Jenkins - ATO Deputy Commissioner, Sandra Parker - Fair Work Ombudsman, Kate Carnell Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Nev Power – Chairman National Covid Coordination Commission and Senator Jane Hume.
Other advocacy workstreams include: • Fair Merchant Service Payment Fees - Minister for Small Business Michaelia cash and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg – re excessive merchant service payment fee and driving the 4 major banks to introduce Least Cost Routing
• Industrial Relations Reform -
Minister for Industrial Relations and Attorney General, Christian Porter – remove complexity, enable flexibility and remove the BOOT test to drive employment growth.
The next stage, the Recovery Stage will focus on stimulating the reopening of businesses, businesses re-engaging their employees, reinvigorating employment growth and driving economic growth. All of this combined with stimulating and reinvigorating the building, home renovation and DIY sectors. Key themes MGA and TMA will pursue include: • Getting the economy going safely - What does a safe workplace look like? - Continue with key messaging – social distancing in the workplace
• Small Business Buy Australian & Buy Local
• Addressing “Anti Competition”
issues because of the shutdown
• Identify impediments to
doing business - Regulation harmonisation – states and territories
• What does the future look like?
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