To protect businesses.

The Federal Government will act to prevent double-dipping claims from employees that are unfair and put economic growth and jobs at risk.

NRA deputy CEO Lindsay Carroll said this Government action was crucial to prevent payment twice for the same benefit – by staff claiming backpay for entitlements such as annual leave even though they had received a casual loading in lieu of these same entitlements.

“The Federal Government is protecting businesses, especially small and medium businesses,against the real risk of damaging double dipping claims,” Carroll said.

“Throughout this process the NRA has been the only retail industry group prosecuting the argument and advocating to government on the need to close the double-dipping loophole before it causes carnage across the economy.

“The NRA, along with our members across the country, is grateful that the government has listened, and we now urge all parliamentarians to endorse this Government action.

“The retail sector in particular employs a large number of casual workers in periods of high customer demand such as in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

“The NRA urges the union movement to not play politics with this issue as it threatens the livelihoods of many small businesses and would put jobs at risk.”