Qld: Sunday trading opens across south-east

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Qld: Sunday trading opens across south-east

Queensland Premier PETER BEATTIE is standing by his Sunday trading legislation todaydespite accusations it could send small businesses to the wall.

Suburban south-east Queensland shopping centres from Noosa to Coolangatta and westto Ipswich opened their doors on Sunday trading for the first time today.

Mr BEATTIE says the legislation brings extra shopping areas into line with the GoldCoast, Cairns and Townsville which already have limited Sunday trading rights.

Retailers Association of Queensland executive director PAT MCKENDRY predicts the extendedhours will create 2500 jobs within the next year.

But Queensland Retail Traders and Shopkeepers Association executive director IAN BALDOCKsays businesses with less than 20 staff will be hard hit, with non-food retailers thefirst to feel the pinch.

Opposition leader MIKE HORAN says shopkeepers have now lost any advantage over multinationalsand thousands might be laid off from small retail stores.

But Mr BEATTIE says the state's small retailers are innovative, creative and determinedand will reshape their businesses and compete.

AAP RTV am/ldk

KEYWORD: SUNDAY TRADING (BRISBANE)