Advances in technology and automation have reduced the need for manual labor. Therefore, working hours should be reduced. To what extend do you agree?

Many companies and businesses think extending trading hours will benefit them in the long term. But is

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really the case? Across Queensland 57% of businesses said ‘yes’ to the deregulations of trading hours. Trading hours are a certain set of hours put in place for when businesses can and can’t operate during that day. Recently the State Government has made major changes with the trading hours of retail businesses in Queensland. By cutting Sunday penalty rates

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increases trading hours from 7am-9pm. As good as it sounds extending trading hours will only leave a negative outcome. As of now the trading hours in Queensland are 7am to 9pm, Monday to Saturday and 9am to 8pm on Sundays and public holidays all under the Trading (Allowable Hours) Act 1990 supported by the Trading (Allowable Hours) Regulation 2004.

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, there can be exceptions to what type of

store

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the business runs. Exempt, independent and non-exempt. Stores that are exempt usually operate in a stated area for an event

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includes stores

such

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as florists, chemists, galleries etc. These shops have unrestricted trading

hours meaning

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hours, meaning

they can operate and close any time of everyday throughout the year including public holidays. Independent are a sub-unit of exempt stores. These businesses are run

individually

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individual

, partnership or by a proprietary company. No more than 30 people are allowed to engage in the

store

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at one time (including the owner) and no more than 100 engaged in all shops across Queensland. These retailers can open

anytime but

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anytime, but

have restrictions during specific holidays (Good Friday, Christmas, Anzac Day) to remain closed.

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, if the

store

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is a food or grocery

store

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these restrictions do not apply. Supermarkets, department and hardware stores are larger

retailers meaning

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retailers, meaning

they are non-exempt stores. Trading hours for these stores depend on their location. An example of

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are

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is

tourist areas, where non-exempt stores can operate during 6am to 9pm from Monday to Friday, 7am to 9pm on Saturday and 9am to 6pm for Sunday and public holidays.

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has yet been changed by the Queensland Government allowing stores to open longer. Take the view of a workers perspective. Think about the How is it

controversial

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controversial?

Many people and businesses will majorly be affected by

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reform

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, especially those of which are located in regional and remote areas. As there are still connections between the businesses and the community. Changing trading hours will boost the competition against larger scale retailers leaving smaller businesses with a negative impact. Retailers

such

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as Woolworths will

then

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be operating longer attracting more and more consumers/customers, leading them away from smaller businesses who are competing against them. Leaving them with no choice but to shut down. “Major retailers have undue influence on small independent retailers. There is not a level playing field. Small retailers will struggle to compete if trading hours were deregulated” - Survey Respondent, Central Queensland. Without the current laws we have now (Trading (Allowable Hours) Act 1990) there would be less order in how businesses operate. Again, businesses in favour of

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reform

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highlight that

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could be “increased opportunity for sales” but according to the Chamber of Commerce & Industry Queensland (CCIQ) two-thirds of businesses said that their sales, profit, employment and investment would not be impacted by

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change

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. Meaning that the majority of Queensland wouldn’t need these deregulations. Along with 66% of businesses agreeing to maintain regular trading hours in Queensland.

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would

also

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have no effect on exempt stores which are currently

have

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having

unrestricted hours even for public holidays. “The cost of employment mean many small businesses find it isn’t worth opening for extended hours, on Sundays and public holidays. Penalty rates in their current format are from the dark ages and act as a deterrent for employment” - Survey Respondent, South West Queensland Impact on economy With over 50% of businesses agreeing to keep regular trading hours why would the government even want to introduce

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reform

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in the

first

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place? There is no doubt that smaller businesses will be heavily impacted by

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change

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because when larger retails open so will small businesses as there is always going to be that competition between the two. All stores in Queensland must follow these so-called trading hours

for

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from

when they can open and close following the Trading (Allowable Hours) Act 1990. The Queensland Government has proposed to deregulate

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act by extending trading hours.

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reform

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would negatively affect stakeholders

such

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as small business who compete against larger

retailers

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retailers, although

although

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if the

change

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occurs

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occurs, then

then

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most larger businesses wouldn’t be affected by

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, again leaving smaller businesses more impacted. Meaning there is no need for

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change

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.