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Retailer fined
TASMANIA: National sporting goods retailer A-Mart All Sports has been fined more than $50,000 for underpaying staff at two of its stores in Tasmania. The group was fined a total of $52,800 during an appearance in the Federal Magistrates Court where it faced two breaches of the Workplace Relations Act in 2005 and 2006. The breaches involved underpayments of $41,000 and affected 44 staff at A-Mart All Sports Glenorchy and Hobart stores between September 30 2005 and July 2006. The court heard evidence that staff, mostly junior or casual, were required to do unpaid work 15 or 30 minutes before and after their shifts. In summing up Federal Magistrate Philip Burchardt said making people work for nothing was "outrageous" and warranted a severe penalty.

E-tailer gets nod
SYDNEY: Luxury online fashion retailer Le Black Book has secured an enviable position in the inaugural Rosemount Sydney Fashion Festival (RSFF) roster. The e-boutique is set to be the only online retailer featured at the five-day public event, with an exclusive fashion show on August 12. Le Black Book, which stocks labels such as Kirrily Johnston, Ellery, Daniel Avakian and Bowie, will stage a runway show at Sydney nightspot The Ivy. Laptops will be set up throughout the venue to allow guests to shop while viewing the latest spring/summer 2008/09 collections. Organiser IMG has yet to release an official schedule for RSFF.