Our Role

In any week, there are decisions made by parliaments, industrial tribunals, public servants, government
inquiries, various boards and review committees.

Many of these decisions will have important consequences for business. It would be leaving these decisions to
the influence of every other interested party but employers if they did not find a means through which they
could shape those decisions.

Employer associations exist because employers must be able to work together. Employers need to shape the
environment in which their businesses operate, so they need organisations that can represent them wherever
and whenever decisions on matters that will affect them are being made. Unless such organisations exist,
decision makers will have no adequate means to find out what employers want and employers will have no
adequate means to make their views known.

A strong, viable and growing private sector is absolutely essential if Australia is to have a fully employed
workforce and a prosperous community. It is the business community that is most knowledgeable about the
kind of environment needed to create and maintain a strong, viable and growing private sector. It is the right and
the duty of the private sector to advise those who make decisions on the actions which business believes
should be taken. It is the role of employer organisations to provide the views of the business community to
those decision-makers.

The world is one of change. Some changes are for the better, while others make things worse. But whether
we like it or not, changes are going to be made. If employers do not do what they can to shape these changes
in ways that are best for them, one thing is certain. Those changes will be worse, often much worse for
employers, and therefore for the country as a whole, than they would otherwise have been.

Employer organisations also provide their members with many useful services, as well as discounts and
business advice. It is essential that you are a member of an employer association. There is strength in numbers
and employer organisations depend on membership to be able to provide its services to the industry.

If you have any questions about The Retailers Association and our role in looking after you and your interests
please call our office on 1300 721 730.