Trading hours Bill on hold

FAR North MPs Rob Pyne and Billy Gordon and fellow crossbenchers are standing in the way of a major shake-up of the state’s trading hours laws.

Parliament was due to vote yesterday on legislation aimed at overhauling Queensland’s “confusing” trading hours regulations.

But at the 11th hour, the Palaszczuk government postponed the vote until next month after it became clear the Trading Amendment Bill was destined for defeat.

The Opposition and crossbenchers – also including Katter MPs Rob Katter and Shane Knuth and One Nation’s Steve Dickson – believe the reforms would give even more power to market heavyweights, like Coles and Woolworths, at the expense of small and medium businesses.

“This Bill is not in the best interest of our local retailers, such as our IGAs and other local business operators such as hardware stores and motor traders, who employ local people and have been contributing to the Cairns community for a long time,” Mr Pyne said.

“This Bill is sold as making positive changes to trading hours in Queensland, but in reality, it gives more power to the giant supermarket chains Coles and Woolworths, so they can swamp local business.”

The government introduced the legislation after an independent review found existing trading hours laws “confusing to business operators and consumers alike”.

Under the proposed reforms, traders in the Cairns CBD would be allowed to open on Monday to Friday from 6am-10pm, on Saturday from 7am-10pm and on Sunday from 7am-9pm.

Employment and Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace yesterday said the legislation was a “well-rounded package”.

“We want to slash the number of trading hours provisions in Queensland from 99 to just seven – a red tape reduction of 93 per cent,” she said.

“Our proposed trading hours reforms will create up to 1000 new jobs in Queensland, and they have widespread industry support.”

Parliament is due to meet next on June 13.