Posts by theo@aacs.org.au

The federal government has signed new deals with fuel companies Ampol and Viva, which underwrite spot purchases of cargos normally deemed commercially risky. Ampol and Viva have signed new fuel supply deals. Photo: HC Digitial (via Unsplash) The federal government has signed new deals with fuel companies Ampol and Viva, which underwrite spot purchases of cargos normally deemed commercially risky. Announced on Thursday morning at the Ampol refinery in Queensland, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the agreement follows the passing of fuel security powers through the parliament last week. He said the terms of the contracts with Ampol and Viva means Export Finance Australia will underwrite the spot fuel cargo purchases at short notice and the government can direct where those supplies go. “This allows them to bring more fuel to Australia,” Mr Albanese said, ahead of a visit to Singapore where more than half of Australia’s petrol supplies travel from. Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the Ampol and Viva deals provide government backing in…

The business started with the Booth’s family grocery store in Dandenong. Discovering a gap to call on retailers offering a range of confectionery, the business was soon renamed Terry and Vics. From those humble beginnings, in April 2026 Accredited Distributors will celebrate 50 years in business. The business has now grown to include four branches across Victoria, Albury, Bendigo, Geelong and Dandenong. Collectively servicing over 8000 customers across the community and employing over 200 staff. Our annual Trade Show is the talk of the industry bringing customers, suppliers and Accredited Distributors staff together. This is an opportunity for suppliers to showcase their new products & offer hot priced deals to those attending. Accredited Distributors are now part of the Distributor Group, Australia’s leading national independent convenience wholesaler and distributing to petrol, convenience, corner stores, pharmacy, newsagents, schools and the route market. We specialise in the sales and distribution of beverages,…

A new cash acceptance mandate with 2 industry codes started on 1 January 2026. The ACCC has published guidance about the cash acceptance codes, exemptions,  and how they will be enforced. Complying with the codes About the codes Supermarket and fuel retailers must make sure customers are provided with a reasonable opportunity to pay in cash at certain retail sites. Cash must be accepted: The cash acceptance rules do not apply to any other industries. These rules also do not apply to: However, the rules do apply to small business retailers that use a registered trademark which is also used by a large retailer. See case study examples of businesses where the codes do and don’t apply. Exemptions from the codes There are specific circumstances where a supermarket or fuel retailer can apply for an exemption from accepting cash payments under the codes. Broadly, these are: See the categories of exemptions and case study examples. Applying for…

The Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) has warned shoppers will ultimately pay more for products after the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) announced a half baked ban on card surcharges but gave the big banks and international card companies permission to simply move the fees to behind the scenes. AACS CEO Theo Foukkare said the RBA’s failure will result in Australian small businesses and their customers handing over even more money to the banks and overseas card companies and would undoubtedly drive up prices for everyday essentials. “It’s a great headline for the RBA but the devil is in the detail and the detail is demonic,” Mr Foukkare said. “This RBA decision fails a fundamental test — to deliver real cost relief for consumers — and instead risks embedding higher prices across the economy. “Without banning the banks from demanding excessive fees for the interchange and other back-end tech,…

McDonald’s is one of the big employers of young people set to be affected by the abolition of junior pay rates. The adult rates are proposed to be phased in over four years, starting in December and ending in July 2029. The landmark ruling is expected to affect Woolworths, Coles, McDonald’s and other major employers of young people. Under the three industry awards, an 18-year-old is paid 70 per cent of the adult wage, a 19-year-old is paid 80 per cent and a 20-year-old is paid 90 per cent. The Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association argued many young workers were already experienced as they had started work aged 15 or 16, and the adult rates were needed to increase living standards of the low-paid. The union argued that 21 years as the exit age for junior rates was a “historical accident” and that there was “no magic to the…

Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock is navigating waters made more choppy by the Iran conflict, the AI revolution and the wobbles in the private credit sector. David Rowe The former Reserve Bank official is best known as the local chief economist for HSBC. But he also has a global role as chief commodities economist, giving him a close-up view of how the real-world energy shock caused by the conflict is spilling over into economic growth. And it’s not a pretty picture. Bloxham’s latest forecast is that Australian GDP growth will fall in the June quarter as twin shocks smash the economy: first two interest rate hikes, and then the higher cost of fuel and other oil-related products. HSBC expects higher rates and fuel costs will knock around 1.8 percentage points off household disposable income in the June quarter, and the impact on the broader economy may be compounded by a…