Later Retail Trade encouraging Public Transport use in SEQld

[achiruel]

The only issue I see with a non partitioned area is how will trading hours for liquor be enforced for 24 hour supermarkets/ convenience stores etc? Yes there are a number of 24hr independent supermarkets around SEQ, IGAs, Foodworks etc.

[James]

Simply require the alcohol be in a locked cabinet of some sort, or refuse sale at point of service. Alternatively, allow a choice - open between 12am and 6am, or sell alcohol.

Supermarkets in Europe & the UK seem to cope just fine with this issue. No doubt the nanny state of Qld would come down hard on it, though.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Queensland extended trading hours to pass Parliament this week

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 Queensland Parliament this week.

Lauded by Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace as the biggest shake-up to the state's retail sector in decades, the legislation will standardise opening laws across the southeast and regional areas, create new jobs and increase choice for shoppers.

Passing the laws will be a huge win for the State Labor Government, which had to put them on ice earlier this year when the LNP and crossbench combined to block the impending vote.

The Courier-Mail understands 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 Mr Gordon guaranteed his support for controversial 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 a plethora of 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 new 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.

The Federal Government's 2015 Harper Review called for a deregulation of trading hours and business groups have suggested the rules have been costing the state $250 million a year in lost trade.

[verbatim9]

^^It's a step forward

Woolies Gas Works and Coles New Farm will be able to Trade 6am-10pm Mon-Fri Sat 7am-10pm Sun 7am-9pm

Cairns CBD and Gold Coast Tourist Precinct will also reflect these hours

Port Douglas and Mossman will become deregulated

Regional areas with Sunday and Public holidays will Trade 7am-9pm Mon-Fri 7am-6pm Sat 9am-6pm Sundays and Public Holidays. Therefore Stanthorpe Warwick and Toowoomba will trade these new hours

Plus trading until midnight for all stores leading up to Christmas state-wide

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> National Retail Association slams new trading laws

THE National Retail Association has slammed both the Queensland Government and Opposition over new trading laws expected to pass Parliament as early as today.

NRA chief executive Dominique Lamb said the recommendations of the Mickel review into trading hours had been watered down so much that no change would actually be better than what was now on the table.

Ms Lamb said the changes saw just a few hours of extra trading in regional areas and a five-year ban on places without Sunday trading now from being able to apply to open.

She said an original version of the Bill had retained the right of the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission to be able to decide whether those areas could adopt Sunday trading.

"These changes, that have been hammered out in a secret deal with the cross bench, will actually take Queensland backwards in terms of retail trading, consumer choice and job creation," she said.

"This is a farcical outcome that looks nothing like the sensible and workable recommendations handed down by the Government's own review into shop trading hours."

Ms Lamb said amendments had not been discussed with the NRA, which was the country's largest retail association and represented large supermarkets and department stores.

"This is an utter failure of the political process, and both the Opposition and the Government should be deeply ashamed that they have permanently damaged retailing in the state," she said.

"Queensland retailers have been fighting with one arm tied behind their backs as they are forced to close their doors and hand the market over to internet stores and overseas competition from the likes of Amazon.com.

"Now their State Government has tied the other arm behind their backs as well."

[verbatim9]

^^Interesting that the review into Retail hours has been watered down so much that the changes are really insignificant. Very similar to the QR review and other reviews into certain things the Government has done.

You would think that all Supermarkets should be able to trade 7 days from 6am-10 or 11pm statewide 364 days if required? Plus the ability to obtain a Packaged Liquor license to sell Liquor and help local wineries, craft breweries and distilleries to market and sell their product.

I must admit the subtle change from the Qirc last December for Trading Mon-Sat 7am-9pm in SE Qld has helped public transport loads. And I have noticed that other small businesses stay open longer on Saturdays as well. Some Public Libraries have also adopted longer hours.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Queensland trading hours laws pass parliament

EXTENDED trading hours are expected within weeks after new laws passed State Parliament overnight.

The Government slammed Opposition support in the eleventh hour after amending the legislation to allow regional stores to open at 8am instead of 7am on weekdays and ensure 21 towns and regions that don't have Sunday trading continue to be closed for the next five years.

The original Bill had allowed those towns, like Mount Isa, Ayr and Proserpine, to apply for Sunday trading, but they will now need to wait until at least 2022.

The concessions were met with anger by the National Retail Association, which represents large supermarkets and department stores, with chief executive Dominique Lamb claiming no change would be better than the few hours of extra trading that was now on the table.

But Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace said the NRA had done well out of the changes and that 15 of the 21 towns had never made an application for Sunday trading.

"I guess if you've got both sides that are a little unhappy, you probably know the balance is right," she said.

Ms Grace said shoppers would very soon have standardised trading across the southeast, regional Queensland, in tourist areas and across Christmas, longer opening hours on public holidays and longer trading for stores like bakeries and hardware stores.

LNP Industrial Relations spokesman Jarrod Bleijie said the Government was forced to amend the legislation due to pressure from the Opposition.

"The Minister has been forced to move the amendments proposed by the LNP in our contribution to the debate to protect the small independent operators," he said.

"The LNP is supporting these amendments because they will effectively give a moratorium on no additional trading hours for Coles and Woolies for five years in areas that don't have those extended trading hours at the moment.

"That is good news for our small and independent operators right across Queensland."

One Nation MP Steve Dickson opposed the legislation, insisting the five year moratorium on Sunday trading hours was a "very small window" which was insignificant.

Katter's Australian Party MPs Robbie Katter and Shane Knuth also voted against the reforms, but independent MPs Billy Gordon and Rob Pyne offered their support.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ABCNewsBrisbane/status/900113477494124544

[verbatim9]

^^Its a joke Regional areas will now only gain an extra hour of trade during the week. That's on Saturday closing at 6pm instead of 5pm - 5.30pm. plus all stores including Supermarkets will need to close at 6pm on Christmas Eve instead of 9pm. Thus people finishing work at 5pm will have issues getting to a Supermarket after work on Christmas Eve. No other State in Australia imposes such restrictions on Christmas eve. It turned out to be a review when not having a review. What a waste of public funds. The QR railfail review seems to be in the same boat.

[verbatim9]

Retail laws passed last night

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2017/8/23/1000-new-jobs-in-pipeline-from-historic-trading-hours-reforms

Statements QLD

Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, Minister for Racing and Minister for Multicultural Affairs
The Honourable Grace Grace

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

1,000 new jobs in pipeline from historic trading hours reforms

The Palaszczuk Government has made the most significant changes to Queensland's retail trading hours in more than two decades, with a reform package that will cut red tape for business and create up to 1,000 new jobs.

Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace said the changes to the Trading (Allowable Hours) Amendment Bill 2017 passed by State Parliament overnight addressed a series of longstanding 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.

"The implementation of our reform measures is expected to support up to an additional 1,000 full-time equivalent jobs.

"This builds on the government's record of working with industry to craft 94,500 new jobs in Queensland as we intensify our efforts to cut red tape.

"Less restrictive trading hours' regulation means shoppers will enjoy more choice, flexibility and convenience.

"Enhanced competition will mean lower prices for mum and dad consumers and there's the luxury of being able to shop over more hours."

With the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games fast approaching, there's some good news for businesses on the 'Glitter Strip' too.

"Under the new laws, special trading hours' applications can be made for extended trading around major events, such as the Games," Ms Grace said.

"This means interested parties can apply to remain open longer for all those tourists tipped to visit the Coast next year.

"We've also taken on board feedback from motor vehicle and caravan retailers, whose trading hours arrangements will remain unchanged."

The key reforms to the Trading (Allowable Hours) Amendment Bill 2017 are:

trading hours for large non-exempt shops are 7am to 9pm Monday to Saturday in south-east Queenslandoutside the south-east, trading hours for non-exempt shops are Monday to Friday 8am to 9pm, Saturday 8am to 6pm, Sunday and most public holidays 9am to 6pm (Townsville Tourist Area retains its current 7am opening time on Monday to Friday)regional towns that do not currently have Sunday and public holiday trading for non-exempt shops remain that waytrading hours for non-exempt shops on Sunday and most public holidays, other than in the defined tourist areas, will be standardised across Queensland from 9am to 6pmpublic holidays treated as closed days for all non-exempt shops across Queensland are Good Friday, Anzac Day, Labour Day and Christmas Dayspecial tourist areas such as Cairns CBD and Gold Coast Coastal Tourist Area will have access to extended trading hours for non-exempt shops that meet the needs of domestic and international visitorsspecial trading hours' applications can be made for extended trading around major events, such as the Commonwealth Games next yeartrading hours' restrictions for butcher shops, special exhibitions and trade shows are removedall hardware stores can open from 6am, 7 days a weekextended trading hours apply in the period leading up to Christmas for non-exempt shops in all areas of the state, with trading to close from 6pm on Christmas Eve to allow retail workers to go home and be with their families and friendsindependent retail shops can employ more staff without being subject to the trading restrictions of non-exempt shops, by increasing the employment threshold from 20 to 30 employees at any one time on the floor, and from 60 to 100 where a number of related shops are operatedmotor vehicle and caravan retailers retain their existing trading hours' arrangementsprotections for retail workers make it an offence for an employer to require an employee to work the extended trading hours unless the employee has freely elected to do sofive year moratorium on further trading hours' applications to extend the allowable trading hours for non-exempt shops (provide a period of stability and certainty for all parties and put a temporary end to the ongoing process and costs involved with retail organisations applying to the QIRC for trading hours' ordersa review of the new trading hours' arrangements will be completed prior to the end of the moratorium period.

For more information, visit treasury.qld.gov.au

[James]

The LNP's 11th-hour amendments prove that the mentality of the old Country Party is alive and well. Don't you worry about that!

[ozbob]

The LNP's 11th-hour amendments prove that the mentality of the old Country Party is alive and well. Don't you worry about that!

Queensland (a.k.a. banana land) will never have nice things ! (apart from dancing bananas) 

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Opinion: Queensland trading hours won't extend to more money for small retailers

WE will be able to shop until we drop: this is the freedom delivered to us by the reforms to state retail trading hours.

Under the new world order, butchers will open whenever they want to, supermarkets will open longer, hardware stores will trade from 6am every weekend, extended trading in the lead-up to Christmas is guaranteed and shops will open on Easter Sunday.

The only thing you won't be able to buy on a Sunday in Queensland is a car or a caravan.

It is all about streamlining: instead of 99 different trading hours zones, the state will now have a dozen.

When the Palaszczuk Government took receipt of the trading hours review report and announced the impending retail trading hours overhaul in February, it claimed the existing rules on trading were restrictive, confusing and pulling the reins back on jobs.

I am no sentimentalist. While the halcyon days of shopping centres with civilised hours – closing most nights, and at noon on Saturday to reopen on Monday morning – were great for families and communities, that horse bolted long ago.

But why throw off the bowlines when we are setting sail in the wrong direction?

Deregulation is about money, not about making more services available or giving the people what they need.

If we really mattered, banks, dentists, council offices, mechanics, transport departments and courts would be made to throw open their doors far more.

Instead, those places are allowed to stoically cling to hours of the 1970s.

The only motivator behind the retail trading hours reform is bucks: the naive notion that if shops are open longer, we will cough up more of our hard-earned there.

But we won't. The same number of us will just fan out further.

Just because shops are going to be open longer does not mean people will get out of their jim-jams and into their cars to go shopping.

I am no mathematician, but surely there are only a limited number of customers with a limited amount of money to spend.

Spinning out the opening hours does not make more money appear, magic pudding-like.

So why sacrifice small operators on the altar of so-called progress?

Because of the reforms, advocates for small traders have rung the alarm.

They fear for family-owned businesses being driven under by the weight of the multinationals, who will suddenly be not only everywhere, but also all the time.

The only outcome possible is that shops' running costs will be increased, and smaller shops will have to pass this on to customers where the big ones will absorb it for a time until the small ones close down.

The Government should not orchestrate a battle.

It should not create an environment and then sit back, feeling smug that they have facilitated "progress", and watch the little people be annihilated.

The struggle for independent retailers is real.

The struggle for those who care about food miles, local manufacturers, conscious consumerism and work-life balance is too.

There is no questioning that retail is a massive employer.

More than 255,000 Queenslanders are employed in the retail sector, accounting for more than 10 per cent of all jobs.

But if people want to shop in the middle of the night, they log on.

It has become our way and just because shops are going to be open longer does not mean people will get out of their jim-jams and into their cars.

While helping pay some poor casual employee's wage is an admirable motivator, consumers know that buying at a physical shop does not mean "buying local" any more than opening retail outlets longer is good for us, our culture or the economy.

Dr Jane Fynes-Clinton is a journalism lecturer at the University of the Sunshine Coast

[SurfRail]

I take it she didn't do her journalism degree at Melbourne Uni.

[James]

A journalism lecturer from Sunshine Coast University (not exactly the finest educational institution) going on about the economic impacts of extended trading hours in an opinion piece which contained one fact and no half-decent research or reference to other news sources.

Give me a break!

[verbatim9]

^^Yeah saw it. Its Rubbish! (Re opinion piece)

[verbatim9]

New retail hours effective from this weekend at most stores. I don't think it will change too much regarding demand for public transport. Perhaps in regional areas like Townsville and Toowoomba as the change there is significant on Saturdays and Sundays. With 6pm close on Saturdays and earlier opening times on Sundays, being 9am most stores 7am some stores. At Newfarm, Newstead and Tourist Precincts Cairns and Gold Coast earlier opening times during the week at 6am. Public transport services already existing for 6am starts so loads might be different at those times?

[verbatim9]

Reminder that Coles Myer Centre, Petrie Terrace, Woolworths MacArthur Chambers and Spring Hill are open until midnight from today until the 15 April 18. #Coles #Woolworths #retailhours #Brisbane #Bne #GC2018. All Gold Coast stores in the greater Gold Coast city council area are open until midnight or 24 hours  https://t.co/shdVZxHyOR

[verbatim9]

Woolworths Metro Southbank trading hours temporarily extended.------>https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=13478.msg227287.msg#227287

[verbatim9]

Looks like a lot of stores predominately (supermarkets and discount department stores) have decided to open until midnight this year from December 18. So I wonder if Buz services on main trunk routes will extended to 00:30 from December 18 to 23?

[Gazza]

What loadings would you expect per bus if they did?

[verbatim9]

What loadings would you expect per bus if they did?

It's about retailer workers able to get home or closer to home after their shift as well. Plus we are only talking extending services for an hour when usually they stop at 11.30.  It has to be well marketed and not just left to the last minute. Or a permanent timetable put in place each year for late December.

[Cazza]

As much as I hate to say it, hardly anyone (even during the day on weekdays) will use public transport to go grocery shopping. The only people I notice are small numbers of elderly residents living within walkable distances to the shops (for abled bodied people anyway).

It's usually a slightly different story for people shopping at bigger shopping centres (like Indro or Garden City) who are after clothes and other stuff like that. Still however, most people at this time of the night will drive as shopping centres generally provide free parking after a certain time.

[verbatim9]

General Retail - Supermarkets, Shopping Centres, Department Stores thread---> Se East Shopping centre's extended trading.

[STB]

As much as I hate to say it, hardly anyone (even during the day on weekdays) will use public transport to go grocery shopping. The only people I notice are small numbers of elderly residents living within walkable distances to the shops (for abled bodied people anyway).

It's usually a slightly different story for people shopping at bigger shopping centres (like Indro or Garden City) who are after clothes and other stuff like that. Still however, most people at this time of the night will drive as shopping centres generally provide free parking after a certain time.

I concur with this.

I'm someone who medically can't drive, if I want to go to the shops, I'll catch public transport - but not to shop per se, I only tend to do it if I want to get out of the house and get a quick bite to eat, or if I need to speak to someone face to face about something.

Grocery shopping wise, I now have that delivered, because it is physically not possible for me to carry $200 worth of groceries onto a bus, and it also ends up cheaper for me than hauling my groceries via taxi/uber etc.

[techblitz]

100% shopping on public transport for me....personal && business stock.......there is no one set retail establishment for me......just the other day it was food shopping at coles Miami...two hours later I'm walking out of aldi at Fairfield with biz stock....
My post popular combo atm is aldi/coles west end via the blue glider...then hook back into the 110 or 115 at CC...

[verbatim9]

100% shopping on public transport for me....personal && business stock.......there is no one set retail establishment for me......just the other day it was food shopping at coles Miami...two hours later I'm walking out of aldi at Fairfield with biz stock....
My post popular combo atm is aldi/coles west end via the blue glider...then hook back into the 110 or 115 at CC...

I travel to and from the shopping centres with Public Transport as well. So much easier than navigating those countless floors of parking.. It's great as other users have noted just to grab some food and a drink (non alcoholic or alcoholic). It's easy for clothes shopping too or grabbing a top up grocery shop.

[verbatim9]

General Retail - Supermarkets, Shopping Centres Thread---> Supermarkets, pharmacies in NSW get green light for 24-hour trading

^^This needs to be addressed in Qld, especially with the Corona Virus pandemic. Residents of Qld should have the opportunity to shop a bit later until 10 or 11 pm. This will allow people to adhere to the 1.5 m distance rule better as well as being able to shop off peak with peace of mind. When the supply chain returns to normal in a few weeks there should be an opportunity to safely shop at Supermarkets in Qld off peak.   

[verbatim9]

Couriermail.com.au---> Push for Sunday trading, midnight hours to help kickstart Queensland retail jobs

Queenslanders would be able to shop until midnight and Sunday trading would be extended across the state under an ambitious plan for the retail industry to recover the hundreds of millions of dollars lost during the pandemic.

RETAILERS are demanding a dramatic overhaul of trading hours in Queensland amid concerns one in five bricks and mortar stores could be forced to close in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.

The embattled sector is campaigning for Queenslanders to be able to shop until midnight and for Sunday trading to be extended across the state as part of a shake-up of "confusing and outdated" trading laws to help retailers get back on their feet.

The 20 projects Queensland tourism needs now

$10k grants for small business in recovery plan

$65m water park and eco resort to kickstart tourism

The retail report by major investment bank UBS found online sales will nearly double in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak in a fundamental shift which could result in 20 per cent of all specialty retail outlets shutting for good.

The report was delivered as new Australian Bureau of Statistics data released on Wednesday showed retail spending fell a record 17.9 per cent in April as strict social and travel restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus hit demand.

It was far worse than what most economists had been expecting and followed a record 8.5 per cent jump in March driven by panic buying and hoarding which left supermarket shelves stripped of essential items.

National Retail Association chief executive Dominique Lamb said Queensland needed to reduce payroll taxes and increase training for regional businesses, and implement consistent trading hours across the state.

"Queensland has a confusing and outdated set of trading laws that need a greater level of consistency across the state," she said.

"A more streamlined set of trading hours post-COVID would help retailers maximise sales by catering to the modern-day shopping habits of consumers."

Large retailers like supermarkets and department stores, which are also big employers, are still prevented from opening on Sundays in certain regional centres.

Ms Lamb said flexible trading hours for the likes of Coles, Woolworths, Aldi, Target and Kmart, which are banned from opening on Sundays in towns such as Kingaroy, Roma, Mt Isa, Bowen, Longreach and Cloncurry, should be adopted.

QUT professor and retail expert Gary Mortimer said all retailers should have the option to adjust their trading hours to suit their community's consumer behaviour, with Brisbane considering a 'night economy' that would allow businesses to open later in the evenings or earlier in the mornings or across weekends.

He said this measure would allow people to shop at different times and avoid crowds while stimulating job growth.

"That might be flexibility to supermarkets to trade to midnight or pharmacies being able expand their suite of health services," he said.

"Certainly in Melbourne and parts of Sydney there is extended trade – and it's not to suggest every supermarket trade til midnight but inner city supermarkets like New Farm, Toowong are very busy, the airport and Skygate already trades 24 hours a day.

"When we look at Mt Isa, which has a high proportion of shift workers – those businesses should be able to cater for those customers.

"While all retailers should have the ability to respond flexibly, there would be some retailers that would say there is no need for a café at midnight or there may be no need to have a fashion store at 10pm at night, but certainly categories like hardware, food and groceries, pharmacy, optometry...beauty services like getting your haircut and nails done, cosmetic services like injectables."

Ms Lamb said retailers would also like to see the government focus on the unemployment level to help the industry so people who lost their jobs find new work and start spending on discretionary items.

"Projects that stimulate the economy such as new infrastructure projects would also help boost spending across the economy," she said.

Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland economist Jack Baxter said issues for retailers stemming from low consumer confidence is likely to be deeply rooted for months to come.

Samantha Ogilvie, who owns two boutiques in Brisbane's James St precinct, said the Job Keeper payments were helping to keep businesses afloat, however whether it ends gradually or on a set cut-off date, will be hard for retailers regardless.

She said it was important hospitality was reopened sooner as it was a key industry that worked hand in hand with retail.

"I think it's going to take a very long time for it to be back to normal – it won't be in the next six months," she said.

[verbatim9]

Statements Qld ---> A new parliamentary committee will review retail hours and report back in early 2022

Following significant reforms undertaken in 2016 to the Trading (Allowable Hours) Act 1990, the Parliamentary Education, Employment and Training Committee will undertake an inquiry into the effectiveness of Queensland's trading hour arrangements as required under the Act.

[verbatim9]

https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=13478.msg250976.msg#250976

Submissions are now open. The inquiry will likely make recommendations to reflect community and business expectations on the matter.:

The terms of reference for the Inquiry are that the committee inquire into and report on the operation of the Trading (Allowable Hours) Act 1990 (the Act), in particular:

• To consider the impact of amendments made by the Trading (Allowable Hours) Amendment Act 2017, with particular regard to:
  
  
• examining the impact of the moratorium on trading hours orders and restriction on making applications (section 59 of the Act) and recommendations following its expiry;
  
• examining the impact of the moratorium applicable to shops in Mossman and Port Douglas Tourist Area (section 56 of the Act) and recommendations following its expiry;
  
• examination of applications made, and consequences, for relaxation of provisions under section 5 of the Act and recommendations for improvement;
  
• the effectiveness of prescribing permitted hours in legislation;
  
• the suitability of the permitted hours as currently prescribed; and
  
• the role of the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission in setting permitted hours outside the prescribed hours.
  

• The operation and performance of the provisions of the Act and how, in practice, different provisions are contributing to the objects of the Act and consider the impact of the existing framework for the regulation of trading hours in Queensland.
  
• The effects of trading hours regulation on the Queensland economy and on regional Queensland.
  

Submission can be made here, Parliament Queensland --> Committee Details | Queensland Parliament

[verbatim9]

https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=13478.msg251805.msg#251805

[verbatim9]

https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=13478.msg251982.msg#251982

[verbatim9]

The Qld Government has completed the Retail Trading Hours review, See--->

The Qld Government has also completed their review into retail trading hours. They are going to legislate less powers for the QIRC, as well as ensuring that stores like Cole, Kmart and Woolies can't open past 10pn except for the week before Christmas.

It goes against the grain of marketing Brisbane as a new world city as well as promoting 24/7 lifestyles.

It will take another Government to implement another review to improve retail trading hours.

[#Metro]

Sounds a bit silly really. Why does the public have to be protected from stores open at convenient hours? Makes no sense.

More activity will drive more off-peak PT use and allow people more choice when to do their errands rather than having to plan around regulated store hours.

[verbatim9]

Yes @Metro it defies logic. Though they have granted Public Holiday trading in regional areas that didn't have it, but not Sunday trading.

The moratorium on trading hours still stands for another year. After that organisations and other stakeholders can apply via the QIRC for an area to trade between 6am-10pm Monday to Friday, 7am-10pm Saturdays and 7am-9pn Sundays and unrestricted public holidays.

Stores will still have the ability to trade up untill midnight a week prior to Christmas.