"We are bringing Queensland into the contemporary age, we are saying people are working longer and harder but we also need to be flexible about where they can shop and when they can shop," Ms Palaszczuk said. Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace said it would deliver consistent and uncomplicated trading hours. The changes will swap 99 different trading-hour provisions for six. All non-exempt stores in south-east Queensland will be allowed to open from 7am to 9pm Monday to Saturday and 9am to 6pm Sundays and most public holidays. Non-exempt stores include large retailers and supermarkets such as Coles and Woolworths, department stores, hardware stores and butcher shops.

Those stores outside south-east Queensland will be allowed to open 7am to 9pm on Monday to Friday and 7am to 6pm on Saturday. The changes could help shops combat the lure of online shopping, with the Trading Hours Review Reference Group report stating that restricting trading hours reduced the industry's competitiveness, including with online retailers. "Many retailers are unable to compete with larger online businesses around price, the primary motivation for consumers to shop online," the report reads. "However, other factors, such as location, customer service and the consumer being able to view and receive their purchase at the point of sale are key comparative advantages for more traditional 'brick and mortar' businesses. Concerns over the impact on small businesses were unfounded, the report said.

"There is little evidence that trading hours' restrictions have a material impact on the overall viability of small retail businesses, with similar rates of participation for small businesses in regulated and deregulated states and territories," the report reads. It also suggests fewer trading hour restrictions may also result in lower prices for customers, as they would be given more choice to buy from other shops. Cabinet decided not to allow trading on Sundays and public holidays in regional Queensland for communities that do not currently have the arrangement, despite it being recommended in the report. Many regional towns are already covered by seven-day trading, and others - such as Warwick, Mt Isa, Bowen, Stanthorpe and Goondiwindi - can apply to the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission to opt-in. Special and tourist areas - such as New Farm and Hamilton North Shore - will be allowed even longer hours for non-exempt stores, opening from 6am to 10pm Monday to Friday, 7am to 10pm Saturday and 7am to 9pm Sunday and most public holidays.

Hardware stores across the state will be allowed to open from 6am Monday to Sunday and most public holidays. And butcher shops will be allowed to open when they want. All non-exempt stores will be allowed to open until midnight Monday-Sunday from December 18-23, and close by 6pm on December 24. This will not affect 24-hour shopping arrangements currently in place for Westfield Chermside and Garden City. But it would mean large retailers would not have to make an application to the QIRC each year for extra hours during the festive season.

Shops in the category will also be allowed to open on Easter Sunday across the state, but close on Good Friday, Anzac Day, Labour Day and Christmas Day. Businesses selling cars and caravans will also be allowed to open the same hours as supermarkets. Protections will also be introduced to make sure that any agreement to work during any of the extended hours is voluntary for workers. Trading Hours Review Reference Group chairman John Mickel said the changes would deliver red-tape reduction. Allowing more stores to sell liquor was not part of the review, and Ms Palaszczuk said the government had no intention to pursue it.

Loading The retail trade industry in Queensland employs 255,000 Queenslanders, or 11 per cent of jobs across the state, paying $9.9 billion in wages and accounting for $76 billion in sales. The National Retailers' Association estimated substantial deregulation would deliver a $440 million boost to Queensland's economy and add the equivalent of 3109 full time jobs.