A PETITION urging the Mount Isa City Council to fight against the application to allow large retail shops to trade on Sundays has been made.
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The petition was launched by the Member for Mount Isa Robbie Katter yesterday.
Mount Isa City Council decided last week in the full council meeting that it will not submit an application when a commission on Sunday trading is held in Mount Isa in November.
Mr Katter said the large retail shops have never contributed anything substantial to any organisation, charity or sporting body in Mount Isa.
And Sunday trading will negatively impact the small owner-operated grocery stores outside the central business district, he said.
“These are the ones who will be punished if Sunday trading gets the go ahead.
“It could mean they have to close down, and that would be a loss to the city after years of serving us well.”
Mr Katter was pleased the commission will be held in the Mount Isa District Court in November.
“At least those who seek to put their side of the story in this matter will be held in Mount Isa, rather than Brisbane,” he said.
Chair of Mount Isa’s Sport and Recreation Committee councillor Kim Coghlan said her sporting and community groups receive much funding from the small independent stores.
If these stores went out of business it would affect sport in Mount Isa because of funding and because sporting members will be working on Sundays, she said.
The petition can be signed online at www.gopetition.com/petitions/no-sunday-trading-in-mount-isa.html.
Paper petitions will be available in participating Mount Isa stores and at Robbie Katter’s office.