Retailers welcome the Qld Government’s move to create trading hour consistency

THE Australian Retailers Association (ARA) Executive Director, Russell Zimmerman, said today retailers welcomed moves to create consistency across Queensland in shop trading hours.

“Retailers have long bemoaned the inconsistent approach to trading hour zones in Queensland and the move by the Queensland Government to create consistency should be welcomed," Mr Zimmerman said.

While not encompassing all the changes some retailers might want, Mr Zimmerman said this was a significant move by the State Government which would grow many businesses and create jobs in a globally competitive environment.

The opt-in options for the regions, and a five year moratorium on the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC) making case-by-case decisions, will remove a very expensive legal barrier for retailers as they no longer have to provide funding to change trading hours.

“Like other States, this means that changes over the next five years will need to be legislative. This subsequently allows customers and retailers to have their say through their elected representatives on changes to be made to trading hours,” Mr Zimmerman said.

The ARA has been in consultation with the Queensland Government via its members and Board members.

 

About the Australian Retailers Association:

Founded in 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is the retail industry’s peak representative body representing Australia’s $300 billion sector, which employs more than 1.2 million people. The ARA works to ensure retail success by informing, protecting, advocating, educating and saving money for its 5,000 independent and national retail members throughout Australia. For more information, visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

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