MGA Independent Businesses Australia

17/09/2026

A fantastic turnout for the MGA Industry Breakfast 2026!

Retailers, industry representatives and suppliers came together for a morning focused on some of the key issues and trends shaping independent businesses.

The program explored the current economic and political landscape, emerging workplace trends through the Fair Work Commission and practical insights from our Retail Leaders Panel about operating and leading independent retail businesses in today's environment.

The speakers: Heidi Murphy (9News), who facilitated a political discussion with Bev McArthur MP; economist Dr Adam Triggs (Mandala Partners); Commissioner Leyla Yilmaz (Fair Work Commission); and our Independent Retail Leaders Panel: Wayne Harrison (Ritchies IGA), Raelene Hopper (HG Retail) and Geoff Dahlsen (Dahlsens Family Companies).

The conversations continued well beyond the stage, with the event providing an important opportunity for retailers, suppliers and industry stakeholders to connect and share their experiences.

Thank you to our speakers, panellists, sponsors and everyone who joined us. Your participation helped make the morning such a success.

19/08/2026

Join us for the MGA Industry Breakfast 2026 — complimentary for all MGA members and Corporate Partners.

Hear from leading voices on the issues shaping independent retail, including:
• Dr Adam Triggs – Australia’s economic outlook
• Commissioner Leyla Yilmaz – latest Fair Work Commission developments
• Wayne Harrison, Raelene Hopper & Geoff Dahlsen – the future of independent retail
• Heidi Murphy – facilitating our political panel on the policy decisions affecting business

📍 Leonda By The Yarra, Hawthorn VIC
📅 16 September 2026 | 8:30am–11:30am

Free for MGA members and Corporate Partners | $150 + GST for non-members.
Places are limited. Register today: https://zurl.co/industrybf26

22/07/2026

The Winter edition of mgazine is now available.

Packed with practical insights, industry updates and real retailer stories, the Winter 2026 issue covers:
✓ Technology and innovation in retail
✓ Tackling illicit liquor
✓ Salary compliance answers from our HR team
✓ Celebrating 50 years of community retailing
✓ The latest advocacy and workplace news

Read the latest here: https://zurl.co/winter26

20/07/2026

Managing people is one of the most rewarding, and challenging, parts of running a business.

Join the MGA HR Masterclass and learn practical strategies to:
✓ Manage employee performance with confidence
✓ Navigate difficult workplace conversations
✓ Better understand your Award obligations
✓ Build systems that support compliance and consistency.

This workshop is based on real issues our Employment Advisory team deals with every day, giving owners and managers practical guidance for those moments when the right advice matters most.

📍 Melbourne — Thursday 13 August, 9–11 AM
📍 Sydney — Thursday 20 August, 9–11 AM
📍 Brisbane — Friday 28 August, 9–11 AM

Members $99 | Non-members $150 (+GST + booking fee)

👉 Register now: trybooking.com/DNBJU

17/07/2026

What an incredible few days at Metcash Expo 2026!

A huge thank you to Metcash for once again delivering a fantastic event that brought together independent retailers, suppliers and industry partners from across Australia.

It was a pleasure catching up with so many of our members and the wider independent retail community. The conversations we had about employment relations, HR, compliance and the opportunities and challenges facing independent retailers are exactly why events like these are so valuable.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by the MGA stand. We appreciate you taking the time to share your experiences, ask questions and connect with our team.
We're proud to stand alongside independent retailers and look forward to continuing to support you into the future.

Until next time!

06/07/2026

Organised crime is operating in plain sight.

Illegal to***co shops are opening across WA while legitimate businesses and communities are paying the price.

Today, we have published a letter calling on the WA Government to fast-track landlord enforcement laws that permanently shut these businesses down.

Read the letter. https://zurl.co/wmH7P
Share it.
Tag your local WA MP.

Together we can help protect our communities and support legitimate retailers.

19/06/2026

"The illicit to***co wars are still going because governments failed to act swiftly. The warning signs are already there, and the lessons from to***co show the cost of ignoring them." — Martin Stirling, CEO, MGA

That was one of the key messages to emerge from MGA's Liquor: The Next Illicit Market – Lessons from To***co forum yesterday.

Retailers, enforcement representatives, industry leaders and illicit trade experts came together to discuss the emerging risks associated with illicit alcohol and the lessons industry can learn before another illicit market becomes entrenched.

MGA will continue advocating for stronger action to protect lawful businesses, consumers and local communities.

18/06/2026

Today, MGA is bringing together retailers, suppliers, enforcement representatives and illicit trade experts to discuss the emerging risks posed by illicit alcohol, organised retail crime and unlawful supply chains — and the lessons industry can learn from illicit to***co before the problem escalates further.

𝗟𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗼𝗿: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗜𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 – 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗧𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼
📅 Today | 3.00pm – 5.00pm

Key insights from today’s discussion will be shared in the coming days.

07/05/2026

MGA CEO Martin Stirling appeared on the Today Show this morning to discuss growing concerns around organised crime activity and retailer safety in Victoria.

During the interview, Martin highlighted the importance of urgent enforcement action to protect retailers, staff and local communities as violence linked to illicit alcohol activity escalates.

Watch the interview: https://buff.ly/guYpo8Q

24/04/2026

We’ve partnered with industry experts to deliver a national Psychosocial Risk & Workplace Wellbeing Survey—designed to better understand the pressures facing independent retailers and their teams.

From customer aggression to workload demands, the insights gathered will help shape practical tools, guidance and advocacy for our sector.

If you are an independent grocery, liquor or hardware retailer and employ staff, we encourage you to complete the survey and share it with your team—their input is critical to making sure the results reflect real experiences on the shop floor.

✔ Anonymous
✔ Takes ~10 minutes
🗓️ Closes 30 April 2026

👉

MGA Independent Business Alliance offers a suite of exclusive employment templates, policies, and tools to help members streamline their business operations and ensure compliance with industry regulations. These resources, developed in response to member feedback, cover a wide range of essential are...