GLENVALE Convenience Store owner Adam Sack fears for the livelihood of family-owned businesses if the government continues with its push to extend trading hours.

Member for Toowoomba South David Janetzki MP said the new legislation would allow some shops to extend their trading hours from 9am to 6pm on Sundays and public holidays.

A decision was due to be made in Parliament last night, however, Mr Janetzki’s speech against the laws was cut off halfway as the government abruptly postponed the debate.

Mr Sack, who also owns the Stephen Street Store, said the laws would only help grocery giants Coles and Woolworths. 

“This will just ruin small businesses,” Mr Sack said.

“The first and last two hours of our weekend trading – before and after the big supermarkets have closed – they are our bread and butter for the entire weekend,” he said.

“If that is taken away from us – we might as well shut the doors on Sundays because we can’t afford wages.” 

Mr Janetzki would have voted against the legislation and slammed the government’s decision to postpone the vote in the face of fierce opposition.

“Our small businesses don’t need this threat hanging over their heads – they need certainty,” Mr Janetzki said.

“Family-owned grocery stores, corner stores and hardware stores are the heartbeat of Toowoomba,” he said.

“We need to support family-owned businesses so we have competition in the future.”

John Wilson, who has owned and run the 5 Star Supermarket for 17 years, has also felt the crushing effects the Coles/Woolworths monopolies have on small businesses.

“I used to own three shops and employed more than 100 staff,” Mr Wilson said.

“Now I own one shop and am down to 12 staff.”