A local push to extend shopping and dining trading hours has received the support of Queensland councils.
But the retail trade union says demand isn’t there, arguing changes would negatively impact workers and small businesses.
Logan City Council, with the backing of the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ), last week called for the state government to cut red tape and let local councils authorise late-night trading hours.
For Logan, it’s part of a broader vision to create a bustling night life ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
“It just makes sense that each individual council has the ability to identify certain uses in certain locations that could be open until midnight,” mayor Jon Raven said, referring to local areas like Underwood.
“This means we can unlock our night-time economy. We’ve heard for a long time from the community that they want to see more businesses open later.
“That mainly focuses on hospitality – like food and beverage outlets -but once you’ve got them open, you could look at specialty retail and other things in the area.”
Currently, trading hours are set by the Queensland government, with eligible businesses able to chase exemptions.
Cr Raven said it was red tape small businesses couldn’t afford to go through, and something the council wanted to eliminate.
LGAQ, made up of 77 Queensland councils, supported Logan’s bid – only once it was amended to make clear the motion would not focus on big businesses like bottleships and pubs.
In response, the Distributive and Allied Employees Association said it had fought against the deregulation of trading hours for “many years”.
In statement, the union said its members were concerned about extended hours, mainly regarding working unsociable hours, increasing workloads, and negative impacts on smaller retailers.
“If the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC) implements changes to trading hours, we will fight for strong employee protections ensuring no worker is ever forced to work additional hours and that extra shifts remain strictly voluntary,” the statement read.
“Queenslanders have shown time and again that they don’t need or want round-the-clock shopping, but retail workers always pay the price when hours are extended.”
While businesses would not be compelled to stay open later, the council hopes the trend catches on and spreads in some areas organically.
“It would be good to be able to identify precincts, either based on feedback from the business community or from residents,” Cr Raven said.
“In some parts of the city, the demand is already there. There are people operating formally outside of the normal business hours in Underwood.
“There are food trucks, cafes and some restaurants further down along Kingston Road and Slacks Creek that open late.”
This might be okay in tourist areas or Brisbane CBD but in local council areas most people either go to their local clubs to dine if they want something after a certain time but even then, they don’t have kitchens working all hours.