Sunday and public holiday penalty rates will be reduced, page-12

"The commission said the cuts would lead to increased services and trading hours on public holidays and Sundays."

Why would we want more services and trading hours? Particularly with retail? Nobody will buy any more retail products because of longer opening hours, the same amount of stuff will be bought but the overheads and wages will be higher - so the stuff will cost more. It would be interesting to know how much inflation over the last twenty five years has been due to opening hours of retailers increasing from four full and two half days per week to seven days plus open to nine pm or later most nights. More lighting, aircon, staff and staff penalty rates.

Restaurants usually have a surcharge for public holidays, at least there the extra costs are borne by the users. But twenty five years ago, we managed fine (and we were both working) being able to shop only on Saturday morning or late night Thursday at Woolies.