Membership, payments & support — answered

Local Retailers Australia (LRA) is a membership for small independent retailers — gift, homeware, card, office supplies, toy, grocer, pet stores and more. It's a sub-brand of the Australian Lottery & Newsagents Association (ALNA), the peak body with 1,400+ member businesses across every state and territory, and it's delivered by the ALNA team. LRA exists because independent retailers kept asking to join ALNA to access benefits like discounted payments, employment support and advocacy. LRA members are admitted as affiliate members of the Australian Newsagents' Federation (ANF), the entity that operates both ALNA and LRA.

Small independent local retailers — for example gift, homeware, card, office supplies, toy, grocer, pet stores and more. If you run an independent local store and want lower payment costs, business support and a community of other retailers to lean on, LRA is built for you.

Yes. Through ALNA, LRA is a strong voice for local retailers with government, regulators and industry — including seats on ACCC, Fair Work Commission and RBA small business and industry groups — working to protect and grow independent retail.

Members get member-only Windcave pricing with least-cost routing enabled. Least-cost routing sends contactless debit-card payments through whichever network costs your business least — usually eftpos rather than Visa or Mastercard — which can meaningfully cut the merchant fees you pay on tap-and-go sales.

See the full payments offer →

For many retailers, yes. The savings from the member-only payments deal alone can offset the monthly membership fee — and that's before the value of employment and leasing support, training, advocacy and the member community. Membership is designed to put real savings back into your store, not just add another bill.

Yes. LRA offers group-negotiated insurance access through Newspack Insurance, plus member discounts with a range of partners.

Membership brings your card costs down, backs you with real expertise, and connects you to a community — and for many retailers the savings alone cover the fee. It includes:

• Lower card payment costs — member-only Windcave pricing with least-cost routing, from 5.75c per eftpos debit transaction
• Employment, wages & HR support — a dedicated IR specialist, award rates, guides, templates and compliance checklists
• Retail leasing & compliance guidance — help getting on top of your lease
• Group-negotiated insurance through Newspack Insurance, plus member discounts with a range of partners
• Day-to-day business support from the team, whenever you need it
• A strong voice with government and regulators — including ACCC, Fair Work Commission and RBA small business groups
• 24/7 access to the Local Retailers Hub — community groups, 21 Quick Skills Training modules, an Employment Hub, a Leasing Hub, a Supplier Content Hub, an Events Hub, an AI Starter Kit and a Get Found on Google guide
• The member community — other local retailers to swap ideas with and lean on

You get employment, wages and HR help from a dedicated IR specialist — award rates, guides, templates and compliance checklists — plus retail leasing and compliance guidance to help you get on top of your lease. It's practical, real support you can use in the middle of a busy trading day, not a call centre.

The Hub is your member-only platform, available 24/7 on mobile and desktop. It brings together community groups to swap ideas with other retailers, 21 Quick Skills Training modules, an Employment Hub, a Leasing Hub, a Supplier Content Hub, an Events Hub, an AI Starter Kit and a Get Found on Google guide.

Explore the Hub →

LRA membership is billed monthly by direct debit on an initial 12-month membership. Full pricing is shown on our pricing section, and you can apply online in a few minutes. Questions first? Call our team on 02 9978 3400 or email membership@localretailers.com.au.