Shops not classified as independent retail shops or exempt shops are classified as non-exempt. The trading hours for non-exempt shops are regulated by the Trading (Allowable Hours) Act 1990 (PDF, 450kB) and by Orders made by the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC).
Generally, allowable trading hours throughout Queensland are:
Queensland has a number of areas where extended trading applies on Sundays and/or certain public holidays. These include:
|
Area |
Sundays |
Certain public holidays |
|---|---|---|
| South-East Queensland Area (this area extends north to Noosa, south to Coolangatta and west to Amberley and includes the Sunshine Coast Area, the Brisbane Statistical Division, the town of Beaudesert and the Gold Coast Area). |
9.00am to 6.00pm |
9.00am to 6.00pm |
|
Cairns Tourist Area, Townsville Tourist Area, Douglas Shire Tourist Area, Whitsunday Shire Tourist Area and Hervey Bay Area. |
9.00am to 6.00pm |
8.30am to 5.30pm |
| Townsville and Thuringowa Area (excluding the Townsville Tourist Area) | 11.00am to 6.00pm |
8.30am to 5.30pm |
Closure and non-trade
Non-exempt shops cannot trade on Good Friday, 25 April, Labour Day and 25 December.
Additionally, non-exempt shops in the South-East Queensland Area must close on Easter Sunday.
Hardware stores
Non-exempt hardware stores and builder material supply stores are also permitted to trade on Sundays.
Shopping centre tenants
Shopping centre tenants in South-East Queensland are protected from being forced to trade on Sundays and public holidays. For information on core trading hours that may apply in some shopping centres, tenants should contact the Retail Shop Leases Tribunal, Department of Tourism, Regional Development & Industry on telephone (07) 3234 0391 (Metropolitan) or 1800 807 051 (Regional).
Voluntary work provisions for retail workers are provided for in the Voluntary Work - Extended Trading Hours - Non-Exempt Shops - Award - State.
Different extended trading hours' arrangements apply for retail shops over the Easter, Anzac and Labour Day period.
Special trading hours' arrangements apply for retail shops over the Christmas and New Year period each year.
The Commission has the jurisdiction to decide trading hours in excess of the minimum allowable hours. Industrial organisations or other organisations may apply to the Commission for an extension of trading hours for non-exempt shops in a particular locality or state-wide. The Commission in making its decisions may consider issues such as locality, the needs of the tourist industry and the interests of the public, consumers and business. In line with this process, the Commission has approved trading on Sundays and certain public holidays in a number of areas in Queensland.
Wageline's fact sheet on trading hours - types of regulated shops explained:
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© The State of Queensland (Department of Employment and Industrial Relations) 2006
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