The new National Lotteries and Newsagents Association (NLNA) launched in Sydney yesterday, marking an exciting new era for the industry with key partners Tabcorp, News Corp, Nine, Amazon Hub, Ladbrokes, Henderson Greetings, ACCO Brands and Fitzpatrick Insurance coming together as One Industry in support of newsagents and lottery retailers.

‘This is a great opportunity for newsagents around Australia to have a new voice in the Australian retailing landscape. Not only does the NLNA provide advocacy, resources and services, the Association has proactively secured partnerships that will drive new foot traffic and revenue for retailers and will continue to do so’, said NLNA CEO, Brendan Tohill.

Former News Corp senior executive, Kammeron Cran (formerly George) who joins the new Board, said ‘We are a passionate group of commercial people with a vision of a sustainable future for newsagents. We need to take leadership on innovation and customer experience in the channel and support retailers in transforming their offerings so that consumers continue to have choice, value and convenience.’

The NLNA has a range of existing offers for newsagents that if taken up, create savings that in the majority of cases pay for the cost of NLNA membership immediately. In addition, the NLNA will run free workshops around the country for members to attend which will provide training and business tools to help these retailers drive better outcomes for their businesses via digital channels, customer experience, new product offerings and back of house efficiencies.

‘This is a rebirth of our wonderful industry. We stand for improved communications and understanding between government, members and partners’, said NLNA Chairman Chris Pecora.

‘As an NLNA member, we have the confidence that the organisation will ensure growth, financial viability, and protection in our ever-changing business. We are thrilled with the services on offer and look forward to the workshops and other practical benefits’, Rachelle Valente, Albury Newsagency.

‘It’s been great to see VANA evolve so much in recent times and we look forward to seeing them develop further in the months ahead via NLNA. We all share a common goal of seeking new ways to keep the newsagency channel healthy during a turbulent time for retail and aligning the industry further can only be good for consumers, newsagents and suppliers’, Eulinid Stevenson, CEO, Henderson Greetings.

‘Fitzpatrick deals with many associations across a variety of industries and one thing that stands out about the NLNA is that they are more than an industry association for their members, they are a business partner, who work with the members to help to grow their businesses and innovate for the industry,’ said Daniel Holmes, Fitzpatrick Insurance.

‘As the preferred supplier of commercial legal services to the NLNA, we are excited to be part of the journey and growth of the NLNA as it supports its members,’ Craig Sanford, Director, Sierra Legal.

The NLNA has appointed  Nicole Spencer as National Finance Manager.

For comment, please contact  enquiries@nlna.infusion121.com 

The Morrison government is providing a suite of measures to help small businesses that have suffered the impact of devastating bushfires.

The package includes grants, loans and some tax assistance for the estimated 192,000 small businesses and sole traders in the most severely affected regions.

“Getting small business back on their feet is critical,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said announcing the measures on Monday.

The package follows a small business roundtable last week led by Mr Morrison, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Small Business Minister Michaelia Cash that included 70 attendees like the Business Council of Australia, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other chambers of commerce..

An overarching figure on the cost of the package has yet to be announced as damage is still being assessed in many communities.

“This comprehensive package will make it easier for those who have suffered direct fire damage, or have been indirectly economically impacted following the bushfires, to get back back on their feet,” Mr Morrison said.

Loans of up to $500,000 will be offered for business that have suffered significant asset loss or significant loss of revenue.

The loan would be up 10 years and used for the purposes of restoring or replacing damaged assets and for working capital.

The loans will be available with a repayment holiday of up to two years, with no interest accruing during this period. The subsequent interest rate would be set at 50 per cent of the ten-year Commonwealth government bond rate – currently around 0.6 per cent.

Building on the disaster recovery grants put in place by state governments, the federal government will also provide top-up grants to eligible small businesses and non-profit organisations.

This program is uncapped and means that businesses and organisations that have sustained damage as result of the fires can access up to $50,000 in tax-free, grant funding.

The commissioner of taxation has also agreed to provide a range of assistance measures.

Taxpayers in impacted postcodes will now have until May 28, 2020 to lodge and pay business activity statements and income tax returns.

Businesses that pay their Pay-As-You-Go Instalments quarterly are also allowed to vary these instalments to zero for the December 2019 quarter and claim a refund for any instalments made in the September 2019 quarter.

This suite of measures follow the announcement on Sunday of an initial $76 million tourism recovery package.