Long hours in store for retail trade
Cairns and Douglas shops could go later
SHOPS will throw their doors open for longer across the state and businesses will apply for 24-hour trading during major events under sweeping reforms expected to pass Parliament this week.
Lauded by Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace as the biggest shake-up to Queensland’s retail sector in decades, the legislation will standardise opening laws across the southeast and regional areas, create jobs and increase choice for shoppers.
Passing the laws will be a huge win for the Palaszczuk Government, which had to put them on ice earlier this year when the LNP and crossbench combined to block the impending vote.
It is understood that Far North independent MPs Rob Pyne and Billy Gordon have now reversed their positions and Speaker Peter Wellington will side with the Government to pass the Bill.
Debate is scheduled for today, but the Government remains nervous after Cook MP Mr Gordon guaranteed his support for tree-clearing laws last year only to renege.
The LNP, Katter’s Australian Party and One Nation argues deregulation will hurt small traders.
The trading hour laws seek to unwind confusing and contradictory rules based on a shop’s size, location and the number of staff employed.
Under them, supermarkets will open longer, butchers will open whenever they wish, hardware stores will trade from 6am every weekend, shops will open on Easter Sunday and extended trading in the lead up to Christmas will be guaranteed.
Businesses will be able to apply for 24-hour trading during special events like next year’s Commonwealth Games.
But car and caravan dealers will remain closed on Sundays after they argued their customers didn’t want to buy then.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the changes would create up to 1000 jobs.
“The LNP has blocked any reform to trading hours ... (and) are blocking new jobs,” she said.
Ms Grace said current laws had been “a handbrake on jobs and economic growth for far too long”.
“It’s the first major overhaul of Queensland’s trading hours in 20 years, and our proposed reforms will result in a reduction of trading hours zones from 99 down to 12,” she said.