Qld councils seek power to extend retail trading hours
A battle is brewing over Queensland’s trading hours as councils demand power to extend shopping times, while unions warn of devastating impacts on small retailers.
Queensland councils want to open up late-night shopping and dining across the state – and have asked the government to give them the power.
The Local Government Association of Queensland has voted in favour of a motion, led by Logan Mayor Jon Raven, urging the state government to amend legislation to let councils authorise late-night trading in areas of their choosing.
Mr Raven told The Courier-Mail allowing councils autonomy to approve trading would supercharge small businesses and boost the night-life economy ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
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“Talking to our multicultural businesses, they’re keen on it,” he said.
“They say, ‘I’d rather be open from sunset because when people are out, I don’t want to be open all day without customers.’
“People come after work and make it a habit, like how Sunnybank kind of does it already.”
Under the Trading (Allowable Hours) Act 1990, trading hours are set by the government.
Major retailers and grocers are defined as non-exempt shops and can generally trade only until 9pm on weekdays and Saturdays and 6pm on Sundays, while small businesses are generally allowed to trade until 9pm on weekdays and 5pm on weekends.
Exemptions exist for a handful of state-designated precincts, including parts of Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
While the National Retailers Association has long argued for relaxed trading hours, the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association says late trading would put pressure on workers and force mum-and-dad businesses to compete with major stores.
“Small and medium-sized retailers can already trade any hours they choose, ensuring everyone can get the essentials they need whenever they need them,” an SDA spokesman said.
“Longer hours would likely lead to local small businesses shutting up shop, less money going into the local economy, local job losses and negative impacts on those local retail workers employed by the retail giants.”
An independent report by the McKell Institute in 2017 found little evidence deregulation of trading hours offered economic benefit and could also threaten small businesses.
The LGAQ motion argues later trading hours could help revitalise local economies, attract investment in denser housing and retail precincts and create flow-on jobs.
Mr Raven said Logan wanted the flexibility to support hubs such as Underwood and Slacks Creek, where demand for evening trade was growing.
“You’ve got the night markets down in Sydney and Parramatta, and I want to do that in Logan,” he said.
“We’re just trying to think differently, especially in lead-up to the Olympics and Paralympics.”
The state government said it was open to the changes.
“Conference motions will be discussed with the LGAQ and relevant councils, as equal partners in government,” a spokesman said.
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