Report No. 37, 55th Parliament - Trading (Allowable Hours) Amendment Bill 2017

Committee Details

COMMITTEE'S REPORT

The committee tabled its Report No. 37, Trading (Allowable Hours) Amendment Bill 2017 on 28 April 2017. 

View: Report No. 37, 55th Parliament – Trading (Allowable Hours) Amendment Bill 2017
View: Government response
View: Introductory speech
View: Trading (Allowable Hours) Amendment Bill 2017
View: Explanatory notes 

ABOUT THE BILL

On 1 March 2017, the Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, Minister for Racing and Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Hon. Grace Grace MP, introduced the Trading (Allowable Hours) Amendment Bill 2017 into the Queensland Parliament. 

In accordance with Standing Order 131, the Bill was referred to the Finance and Administration Committee for examination. 

The objectives of the Bill are to amend the Trading (Allowable Hours) Act 1990 to reduce restrictions on trading hours in Queensland. The key reforms proposed in the Bill would:

  • replace 99 specific trading hours provisions with six trading hours provisions covering all large stores across Queensland
  • for non-exempt shops under the Act:
  • extend trading hours from 7am to 9pm Monday to Saturday in South-East Queensland
  • extend trading hours from 7am to 9pm Monday to Friday, and from 7am to 6pm on Saturday in regional Queensland
  • standardise trading hours for Sunday and public holidays across Queensland from 9am to 6pm
  • extend trading hours in the lead up to Christmas in all areas of the state with shops to close at 6pm on Christmas Eve
  • remove trading hours restrictions on butchers
  • allow hardware stores to open on Sunday’s from 6am
  • allow special tourist areas such as Port Douglas access to extended trading hours to meet the needs of domestic and international tourists
  • allow special trading hours applications to be made for international events, such as the Commonwealth Games
  • lift employment thresholds for independent retail shops from 20 to 30 employees on the floor in one shop, and from 60 to 100 employees where a number of related shops operate
  • create an offence for employers to require an employee to work extended trading hours unless the employee freely agrees in writing
  • require the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission to consider the impact on employees as a new criterion when deciding trading hours applications
  • introduce a five year moratorium on further trading hours applications to extend trading hours for non-exempt shops (excepting international events and opt-in for Sunday and public holiday trading)

PUBLIC BRIEFING AND PUBLIC HEARINGS

Public briefing – Brisbane, 22 March 2017 - Transcript
Public hearing – Gold Coast, 29 March 2017 - Transcript
Public hearing – Ipswich, (via videoconference) 29 March 2017 - Transcript 
Public hearing – Emerald, (via videoconference) 29 March 2017 - Transcript
Public hearing – Brisbane, 12 April 2017 - Transcript

SUBMISSIONS

Submissions closed on 24 March 2017. Published submissions on the Bill can be accessed under the ‘Submissions’ tab above.

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