A message from NANA President: We hoped 2021 would be a better year but COVID-19 made for a difficult year all round

Newsagents continued to face challenges in 2021 brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Whilst there was some relief from natural disasters, some Newsagents suffered storm and flood damage but thankfully not to the extent as in 2020. Newsagents have also faced personal and family challenges – whether they be financial or on the health front. […]

NSW Ministerial changes lead to shake up in portfolio allocation for small business and lotteries

The NSW Premier has announced a new Ministerial line-up with responsibility for small business going to The Hon Eleni Petinos MP now becoming the Minister for Small Business and Minister for Fair Trading; The Hon Kevin Anderson MP becomes Minister for Lands and Water and Minister for Hospitality and Racing. According to sources within Government, […]

Mandatory face masks reintroduced for indoor settings in the ACT

The ACT has reintroduced the requirement to wear a mask indoors amongst other changes to help keep the community safe from the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Since 11.59pm on Tuesday 21 December, mask wearing has once again become mandatory in indoor settings in the ACT including in Indoor Retail settings. Exceptions for mask usage can […]

Will Omicron variant take us back to restrictions?

The impact of the Omicron COVID-19 variant is now starting to impact the ACT and NSW and other jurisdictions across Australia. Governments are facing pressure to roll back the easing of restrictions including those to do with mandatory face masks and the use of QR code check-ins. The use of face masks in shopping precincts […]

FWC extends unpaid pandemic leave provisions

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has extended the unpaid pandemic leave provisions contained in the General Retail Industry Award 2020. Unpaid pandemic leave will be available for a further 6 months through to 30 June 2022.

A deadline looms – is your lease COVID-19 infected?

The NSW regulations governing retail leases and implementation of the National Code of Conduct for commercial/retail leases such as temporary protections against lock-out and terminations will cease on 13 January 2022. This means that if you wish to pursue a reduction in rent or other lease conditions and you have not yet provided the relevant […]

NSW Lotteries site surveys to be rescored

New South Wales Lotteries Corporation Pty Ltd, via The Lott, has announced Cycle 2 of 2021/2022 site surveys will be remarked/rescored due to the widespread misunderstanding of Question 25. The notification to Newsagents was as follows:

Long Service Leave flexibility provisions to be permanent in NSW

Flexibility measures for employees and Newsagents to access long service leave entitlements that were implemented in response to COVID-19 will be made permanent, the New South Wales government has announced. The amendments to the Long Service Leave Act 1955 (NSW) in response to COVID-19 included:

Masks, QR codes and density limits off for Newsagents in NSW

From Midnight last night the NSW Government has removed most of the COVID-19 restrictions which Newsagents were required to observe.

Additional $500 NSW small business fees and charges rebate now available for Newsagents

Through Service NSW, the NSW Government has added $500 in value to accounts which allow Newsagents to claim up to $2,000 in government fees and charges through a rebate scheme. The full value of the scheme – $2,000, became available on Monday this week when Service NSW business accounts were topped up by $500.