Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett is calling on the Member for Bundaberg to stand up for small business mums and dads over the “big end of town”.
Today the Trading (Allowable Hours) Amendment Bill 2017 will be debated, which Mr Bennett said would hand more power to unions as well as retail giants such as Coles and Woolworths.
Mr Bennett said the legislation, which dictates when retailers can open their doors, would disadvantage local family-run small businesses.
“Labor’s policy is all about backing big business over small business which in the end means that consumers lose out and jobs are lost,” Mr Bennett said.
“Bundaberg family-owned small businesses are telling me these changes will lead to a loss of quality licensed staff who don’t want to work all weekend.
“It will also force an increase in overheads of businesses already facing increased finance regulation and running on tight margins.
“7 day trading will kill family run car and caravan yards – these small businesses will be taken for a ride.
“The member for Bundaberg must show her support for our small businesses in the region and vote against this unfair legislation.”
Mr Bennett said the legislation was based on recommendations made last year, which were not entirely independent.
“Regardless of what the Labor Government claims, the fact is the former union official Grace Grace has botched the review of trading hours process by appointing a former Labor MP to run the review,” he said.
“Even Labor members disagreed with parts of the Bill.
“The whole thing needs to go back to the drawing board.”
ENDS.
24 May 2017