The National Retail Association has backed the Palaszczuk Government’s trading hours reforms and thanked the Government for listening to the views of all businesses rather than a small group of vested interests.
Representing both large and small businesses across the state, the NRA said the new laws offered more flexible and common-sense trading hours, but with sensible safeguards for workers, business owners, and customers.
Chief Executive Officer Dominique Lamb said the government had been confronted with a wide spectrum of demands, ranging from “full deregulation” to continuing to block Sunday trading for a small handful of regional communities.
She said the government had struck a good balance between competing needs and demands, and said it was disappointing that the Opposition had taken such a narrow-minded view of what businesses need.
“This legislation sensibly streamlines and reforms trading hours across the state, and after a 12-month period will give the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission the power to determine Sunday trading for individual regions,” Ms. Lamb said.
“This is precisely where these decisions should be made. The myopic opposition to this legislation has shown precisely why these matters should be kept away from political decisions.
“It also safeguards the rights of workers, particularly their right to volunteer for additional work outside normal hours.
“On behalf of members large and small, we thank the Minister and the Government for the extensive and genuine consultation process they have conducted.
“The result is fair and balanced, and we believe it will be supported by the majority of Queenslanders.”
The National Retail Association is the voice of modern retail, serving business owners for close to 100 years. It represents more than 60,000 shop fronts nationally.
For more information contact the NRA’s media unit on 0467 792 013 or 07 3221 9222.