The CEO of the Australian Retailers Association (ARA), Paul Zahra, has revealed the retailers' wishlist for the upcoming May budget. The ARA is calling for the government to address inflationary pressures by tackling escalating costs in labor, supply chain, leasing, energy, and banking. They also want the small business tax rate to be expanded to include businesses with revenue up to $100 million. The ARA is advocating for the maintenance of the Work Bonus for pensioners and the extension of the Skills Checkpoint program to harness the potential of seasoned workers. They are also pushing for the creation of employment pathways for refugees and the standardization of the minimum working age to resolve labor shortages. The ARA is urging the government to establish a national taskforce to tackle single-use plastics and incentivize recycling. They are calling for funding to deliver retail-industry-specific programs and campaigns to address retail crime and violence against retail workers. The ARA is also emphasizing the need for strategic infrastructure investments to boost supply chain resilience and the appointment of a National Supply Chain Commissioner. They are advocating for the development of a Retail Disaster Response and Recovery Framework and targeted support to enhance small businesses' digital capabilities and cybersecurity defenses. The ARA believes that these initiatives will create a robust, dynamic, and sustainable retail sector that can thrive in a rapidly evolving global landscape. [882716b9]