Member for Mount Isa Robbie Katter has reacted with dismay to the changes to the Trading (Allowable Hours) Amendment Bill 2017 passed by Queensland parliament on Tuesday.
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The changes extend some trading hours however the ban on Sunday and public holiday trading in regional towns like Mount Isa and Cloncurry for non-exempt shops such as Coles and Woolies will remain in place for another five years.
Trading hours for non-exempt shops such as hardware shops have been extended slightly to Monday to Friday 8am to 9pm, Saturday 8am to 6pm, Sunday and most public holidays 9am to 6pm.
However Mr Katter and fellow KAP member Shane Knuth did not support the government’s bill because of the negative long term impact it said it would have on small retailers, particularly in the regions.
“There are some new protections in the bill, like the moratorium on new trading hours applications, which are great, but at the end of the day they don’t support independent retailers or competition in the long term,” Mr Katter said.
Mr Katter said the laws put rural independent retailers at a disadvantage from competition with major chains and he was disappointed the LNP supported the bill.
“They claim that the LNP is the party for small business and even acknowledged that this bill is bad for small operators,” he said.
“As a party bloc, the LNP backflipped and voted to pass the bill as presented.”
Mr Katter said open slather for Coles and Woolies would ultimately drive smaller operators out of business.
“Small business owners already have to compete with the huge economies of scale and buying power advantages that the major retailers have over them,” he said.
“While the major chains might offer lower prices in the short term, when smaller independents are driven out they can charge whatever they want.”
Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace said the changes addressed anomalies holding back retail trade.
“Retail trading hours reform is long overdue in Queensland – it’s been holding back job creation and economic growth for two decades,” she said.
“Less restrictive trading hours’ regulation means shoppers will enjoy more choice, flexibility and convenience.
Employers cannot require an employee to work the extended trading hours unless the employee freely elects to do so.