Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and the Hunter, Mr Scot MacDonald MLC, has welcomed legislation passed by the NSW Parliament to permanently give retailers, employees and consumers the freedom to trade, work and shop on Boxing Day.
The legislation follows a two-year trial, and a comprehensive review conducted by Prof Percy Allan AM, which found clear support for unrestricted Boxing Day trade among consumers, retailers and employees.
Mr MacDonald said that this was an important win for the Central Coast and the Hunter, and placed both regions on equal footing with the rest of NSW.
“The legislation is now uniform across NSW and ensures equal treatment for the regions” Mr MacDonald said.
“I have had strong positive feedback for Boxing Day trading in those LGAs that were previously restricted.
“The legislation will bring benefits to local businesses and support local jobs.
“It will give both employers and employees flexibility,” he added.
The legislation also provides strict safeguards to protect workers, with retailers who force staff to work on December 26 facing fines of up to $11,000 per employee.
The government has also agreed to conduct an inquiry commencing October 2019 to further assess the impact of the reforms.
Source:
Media release, Sep 21
Kit Hale, Office of Scot MacDonald MLC