Shakeup for Queensland trading hours

The Queensland government will consider extending retail trading hours to help boost jobs and end consumer confusion.

Butchers and hardware stores across Queensland could get extended trading hours under proposed changes by the Labor government.

An independent inquiry into the state's retail trading hours has recommended they be simplified and made more customer friendly to "boost jobs and end consumer confusion".

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the patchwork of over regulation no longer suited modern lifestyles.

Ms Palaszczuk said the fact some butchers could not open on Sunday when people liked to barbecue did not pass the "common sense test" while many customers wanted to buy building materials earlier in the day.

"It makes sense to get in early and buy your timber and paint supplies especially during our hot summers," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"We must cut needless red-tape and ease the regulatory burden for retailers.

"Our approach to the review recommendations is to not to force businesses to open longer, but give them the choice to do so."

The retail trade sector is Queensland's second largest employer with a 255,000 workforce and a $9.9 billion payroll.

The Queensland Competition Authority estimated in 2013 that reforming trading hours would benefit the economy by $200 million a year.


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Source: AAP



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