Liberalising Easter Trading Laws Would Hinder Work-Life Balance Efforts

"There is growing community recognition about the need to address work-life balance issues, and we hope that MPs view the debate on the Easter trading laws in this context."

"Workers’ own experience, backed up by research, is that our long-hours culture, shift work and rotating hours are all having a negative impact on their family lives and their ability to fulfil community and cultural commitments."

"Retail workers already frequently work evenings, at the weekend and on many public holidays, and they deserve the break over Easter that the majority of us enjoy."

"In 1990 most shops could not trade on any Sunday and they were unable to open on nine of the 11 recognised public holidays. Now they can trade on 51 out of 52 Sundays and every public holiday except Good Friday, Christmas Day and the morning of Anzac Day.

"There are only three and a half days a year when shops cannot trade. This limit is not an onerous requirement to place on businesses, and there must be some community days when shop employees can join other workers for a holiday."