CAN you imagine the crowd bottle-necked in Coles and Woolworths on Christmas Eve as locals get their last minute shopping done?
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It increases when many who have had no time earlier that week buy supplies that will have to last them through Christmas, Boxing Day, the Sunday as well.
Now they can go shopping at the larger stores on Monday, which will reduce the inconvenience for shoppers on Christmas Eve, and the following Tuesday.
Or so says the National Retailers Association, who made the bid for larger stores it represents such as Coles to open the Monday.
It is the same association that pushed for Sunday trading last year. The commission was held before Christmas but the decision by the Industrial Relations Commissions not to grant seven day trading to big businesses was not announced until March.
Is the four day closure a small step for the association to get its foot in the door to allow seven day trading in Mount Isa?
Maybe. Or it simply could be representing its members that will be forced to shut shop over four days of the busiest season.
The Mount Isa City Council has at least make its position clear this time.
Last year it decided not to make an official position on the subject of seven day trading, whether for or against.
If it supported seven day trading, it is likely that larger stores would be open on the Sunday after Christmas this year.
Its official position aligns with that of State Member Rob Katter, that the larger stores opening on Monday would hurt the already fragile local small businesses.
Unfortunately, the position does little good in the new commission. The council was informed by the group opposing Sunday trading, the Master Grocers Association, that the commission was next month.
Council bureaucracy believed it had more time.