CEO welcome

Welcome to MGA’s first edition for 2021 of the Independent Retailer Magazine. Best wishes to all our members, corporate members, industry stakeholders and industry friends for a robust year of trading and business growth in a safe and COVID-19 free environment!

First and foremost, all members and industry stakeholders must be congratulated for your superhuman efforts in coping with the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The investment all members have made in making their supermarkets, bottleshops and timber and hardware businesses safe community places for people to work and shop has been a credit to you all!

Who would ever have thought such a Pandemic Catastrophe could strike Australia, let alone the world, and have such a profound effect on the daily lives of so many?

MGA members around Australia have served and supported their communities and continue to be at the front line for supplying consumers with fresh food, groceries and household goods.

I also wish to take this opportunity to thank MGA’s staff who have worked through these tough and challenging times and have worked tirelessly to advise, service and support members.

It appears that shutdowns, lockdowns, wearing masks and following all the distancing rules are here to stay for quite some time into the future. At the time of writing, Brisbane City was in a 3-day lockdown, Sydney continues to have small COVID-19 outbreaks. The Victorian, WA and NSW borders were closed and Victorian travellers who were on holidays in NSW prior to borders closing have been left stranded awaiting their entry back into Victoria.

Looking at the rest of the world we certainly don’t have anything to complain about. The United Kingdom, Germany and the United States continue to experience record daily COVID-19 infections and deaths. A new more infectious strain of COVID-19 has also been discovered putting the world on high alert. Overseas travel is something of the past for most Australians given the risks while abroad and then the risks of exposure upon returning to Australia, hence quarantining will be strictly enforced. Travel around Australia is still tenuous given the uncertainty of the COVID-19 disease and the various border closure actions by state governments.

Late in 2020 MGA held its Board nomination process. Three of MGA Directors stood down to renominate. Long-serving Director Mick Daly did not renominate subsequently allowing a new Director to join MGA’s Board. Please join me in warmly welcoming Ripple Parekh from NSW to MGA’s Board. Please also congratulate Debbie Smith for becoming MGA Board Chair and Grant Hinchcliffe has been appointed MGA Board Vice-Chair.

MGATMA certainly has a big year ahead with many initiatives and matters requiring focus and energy to make sure our members’ voice is being heard. These matters include; IR reform - driving simplicity and reducing complexity to increase employment and offer additional hours of work. The Annual Wage Review to minimize any risk of exorbitant wage increases. Lodging submissions to senate inquiries. Competition matters, including opposing Woolworths acquisition of PFD Food Services. Reducing costly Merchant payment fees. Eradication of the illicit tobacco industry and most importantly introducing to all our members around Australia the principles of the Circular Economy.

MGATMA will keep members informed via this magazine, email communique and the website with the latest news concerning the huge cost savings that can be gained by managing waste away from landfill. Now is the time to adopt the culture of reduce, reuse and recycle.

Until next edition - Good selling, and stay safe.

Jos de Bruin CEO MGA Independent Retailers