The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is consulting on the Australian Government’s Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grant Program.

It is timely to consider whether the program is appropriately addressing current challenges and providing good outcomes for industry.

They want your feedback on how the program is operating and if it can be improved.

The 2022 Australia and New Zealand Retail Crime Study is a game-changer for loss prevention specialists and the retail community. The study offers a contemporary academic and statistical analysis of current crime trends.

 

Cost of Retail Crime: 

The cost of retail crime to ANZ $ AUD 
External theft $2,292 million 
External fraud $612 million 
Total external loss $2,904 million 
Internal theft $1,044 million 
Vendor fraud $350 million 
TOTAL crime-related loss $4,298 million 

 

Items Most Stolen: 

Retailer Top Items Stolen 
Supermarket / Grocery / Convenience 

 

 

  1. Fresh meat 
  2. Facial creams 
  3. Tobacco 
Sports and recreation stores 
  1. Sports-related clothing 
  2. Smartwatch/fitness trackers 
  3. Footwear 
Pharmacies 
  1. Perfumes and fragrances 
  2. Facial creams 
  3. Make-up products 
Hardware Stores 
  1. Power tools 
  2. Non-powered hand tools 
  3. Batteries 
Apparel and fashion 
  1. Denim 
  2. Everyday basics 
  3. Fashion accessories tied with lingerie / intimate apparel 
Department store 
  1. Make-up products 
  2. Perfumes and fragrances 
  3. Sports-related clothing 
  4. Denim 
  5. Facial Creams 
Discount department stores 
  1. Make-up products 
  2. Tablets / iPad 
  3. Sports-related clothing 
  4. Connection devices (e.g. Bluetooth etc) 
  5. Fashion accessories 

 

Get ready to showcase your sustainability leadership and make a positive impact on Australia’s future by entering the Banksia’s Awards!

The National Banksia Sustainability Awards shine a spotlight on the remarkable accomplishments of individuals, organisations, and communities across the nation.

As the longest-running and most prestigious sustainability awards in Australia, the 35th Banksia’s celebrate excellence in 14 categories, highlighting the diversity of sustainability practices right across the country.

Winning the prestigious National Banksia Sustainability Award is more than just a trophy on your shelf. It is a transformative accolade that catapults you to the forefront of sustainability leadership, amplifying your positive influence on the world.

Categories include:

Submit your entry through the online portal by December 18th, 2023.

Watch the Online Information Session to hear insights from judges and past winners.

A natural disaster, such as a bushfire or flood, can disrupt and impact your business in many ways. Contact your guests, employees and suppliers to keep them informed of the situation and if you are open for trade, or when you plan to reopen.  

Quick tip: Assess the threat  

Consider the weather conditions, any warnings and the possibility that you will need to activate your emergency and evacuation plans in the event of an imminent threat. The Fire Danger Ratings give you an indication of the possible consequences of a fire, if one were to start.

Quick tip: Look after your visitors  

  • Keep everyone safe – make sure you have mobile phone numbers for all guests currently visiting you and stay in regular contact. 
  • Prepare evacuation messaging and instructions and share with guests, along with details of the local ABC radio station, so they can access up-to-date information in the event of mobile network interruption. 
  • Reach out to guests with upcoming bookings and provide clear updates and information. 

Quick tip: Look after your employees  

  • Keep in touch with your employees and advise them of the impact the natural disaster has had on the business. 
  • Check in with your employees to see if they can work or have also been impacted. 
  • More information about your options and employee leave entitlements during natural disasters or emergencies, and what to do if your business temporarily closes, is available from the Fair Work Ombudsman by calling 13 13 94 during business hours or online.

Quick tip: Stay in touch with your distribution partners  

Update your distribution partners, such as inbound tour operators (ITOs) and online travel agents (OTAs), through which your visitors have booked.  

Keep them updated on:  

  • Safety status of your business and visitors. 
  • Experience or itinerary changes that you are implementing to keep current and future guests safe.
  • NSW Rural Fire Service’s tips for visitors on Travelling in a Bushfire Area, which you can also share with your distribution partners to share with their guests ahead of travel. 
  • Cancellations required due to a natural disaster. 

Quick tip: Social media during bushfires or natural disasters  

  • Acknowledge the event and post safety information. Ensure messaging on social media is in line with the traveller advice issued by the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) or local travel dashboard
  • Post factual details about business closures
  • Post sensitively and show empathy for affected regions at a time when they are vulnerable

Resources  

Refer to the Prepare for the Unexpected guide from the NSW Small Business Commission to implement your business continuity plans, using the supplied templates and checklists. 

Get accurate visitor information during bushfires  

» facebook.com/nswrfs  

» twitter.com/nswrfs  

Check if you can claim a 20% bonus deduction on certain eligible training expenditure for your employees.

Small businesses with an aggregated annual turnover of less than $50 million will be allowed an additional 20% tax deduction for external training courses delivered to employees by registered training providers.

The boost applies to eligible expenditure incurred from 7:30 pm AEDT on 29 March 2022 until 30 June 2024.

The bonus deduction is available for expenditure for the provision of training to one or more employees of your business. The training provider must meet certain registration criteria for the bonus deduction.

Training expenses can include incidental costs related to the provision of training, provided they are charged by the registered training provider, such as the cost of books or equipment needed for the course.