[2025] QIRC 154
General information, not legal advice.
Queensland Industrial Relations Commission
2025-06-11
Original judgment source is linked above.
NOTE: The Application for Special Event Declaration and this Directions Order will be published on the QIRC Website at www.qirc.qld.gov.au. All filed documents in relation to this matter (including correspondence) must be sent to the Industrial Registry at qirc.registry@qirc.qld.gov.au
(1) On an application by a chief executive, local government, organisation or any other person, the industrial commission may declare an event to be a special event.
(2) A declaration for subsection (1) (a "special event declaration") must state the following matters -
(a) details of the event the subject of the declaration;
(d) that section 36BA applies in relation to an employee of particular shops in the area to which the declaration applies.
A shop in the area to which the declaration applies is an exempt shop.
(3) A special event declaration must be published on the QIRC website.
(1) In deciding whether to declare an event to be a special event, the industrial commission must consider -
(a) whether the event is a unique or infrequent event of local, State or national significance; and
(b) the cultural, religious or sporting significance of the event; and
(c) the significance of the event to the economy and the tourism industry; and
(d) whether there is a need for a non-exempt shop, or a class of non-exempt shops, to trade for hours greater than the core trading hours for the shop or class of shops under this Act for the period of the event.
(2) In considering the matters mentioned in subsection (1), the industrial commission must also have regard to the following -
(a) the size of a place where the event will be held;
(b) whether the event will be held at multiple places;
(e) any contribution the event may make to Queensland's national or international reputation;
(i) a local government for an area where the special event declaration is likely to have an impact; or
(ii) an industrial organisation in relation to the likely impact of the special event declaration on employees.
... (b) a shop becomes an exempt shop because a special event declaration takes effect.
(2) An employer of an employee employed in the shop must not require the employee to work during extended hours unless the employee has freely elected to work during extended hours.
(b) for a second or later offence - 20 penalty units.
(3) For subsection (2), an employee has not freely elected to work during extended hours -
(a) if the employee elects to work during extended hours because the employee has been coerced, harassed, threatened or intimidated by or for the employer; or
(b) only because the employee is rostered, or required under an industrial instrument, to work during those hours.
(3) Also, the commission or Industrial Magistrates Court is to be guided in its decisions by equity, good conscience and the substantial merits of the case having regard to the interests of -
(5) In making a decision, other than a decision made under chapter 4 , part 3 , division 2 , the commission must consider the public interest, and in doing so must consider -
(a) the main purpose of this Act; and
(b) the likely effects of the commission's decision on the community, economy, industry, the particular industry concerned and industry generally.
There are two approaches in determining the meaning to be given to the adjective "cultural" in s 5 of the Act. The first, is to give the word "cultural" a meaning which relates to the ideas, customs, and social behaviour of a society. The second approach relates to use of the word "cultural" in the sense of the arts and to intellectual achievement. In my view, the context of "cultural" within s 5 of the Act reflects and sits more comfortably with the latter interpretation. The example being, for the purposes of s 5(3)(a)(i), a "cultural festival"
(a) a unique and infrequent event of mainly local significance;[8]
(b) an event of cultural and sporting significance;[9] and
(c) significant to the economy and tourism industry of the region.[10]
(a) the retail stores who would be allowed to extend their trading hours by virtue of a special event declaration would only open one or two hours either side of their regular hours;[19]
(b) the applicant's admission that it was only aware of one otherwise non-exempt store within the region, being a Woolworths, that would take advantage of being allowed extended trading hours;[20] and
(c) that the Woolworths had been unable to extend its trading hours during a previous iteration of the Chinchilla Melon Festival where there was a special event declaration, and that there was no evidence as to whether this impacted the capacity of the existing retail infrastructure to handle the needs of the festival goers.[21]
I consider that such applications would be more compelling if they were accompanied by evidence from local retailers addressing specific considerations as to the expected hours of opening, or the anticipated increase in trade, and other factors relevant to the considerations under the Act. The absence of such evidence could render such an application liable to being dismissed if the Commission required a more fulsome examination of the elements of s 5 of the Act...[25]
I entirely agree with the SDA's comments that it is imperative the Commission vigorously assess such applications for extended trading hours and that such a decision should not be taken lightly. If it were the intention of the Legislature that every local show was to be automatically declared to be a 'special event' within the meaning of s 5(1)(c)(ii) of the Act, no doubt it would have been so expressed. That is not the case.[27]
However, given the remoteness of Mount Isa and the large distances out of town visitors, competitors and exhibitors will no doubt be required to travel in order to attend the Show, I am satisfied on this occasion, there is some merit to the NRA's submission as to the value in extending the period for which the declaration applies to include 20 June 2021, such that both visitors and locals more broadly can take advantage of extended trading hours over what will no doubt be a particularly busy period.
The significance of the event to the economy and the tourism industry
Section 31B(1)(a) - whether the event is a unique or infrequent event of local, State or national significance
Section 31B(1)(b) - the cultural, religious or sporting significance of the event
Section 31B(1)(c) - the significance of the event to the economy and the tourism industry
Section 31B(1)(d) - whether there is a need for a non-exempt shop, or a class of non-exempt shops, to trade for hours greater than the core trading hours for the shop or class of shops under this Act for the period of the event
Starting at Abel Smith Parade turning south onto Sunset Drive through to Camooweal Street; then onto Patricia Street and West Street travelling south through to Isa Street; then onto Pamela Street; then to East Street, turning east onto Barkly Highway; then onto Abel Smith Parade to the starting point at Sunset Drive.
[2] [2024] QIRC 147, [14]-[20] ('2024 Show Decision').
[3] 2024 Show Decision (n 2) [14]-[20].
[15] [2025] QIRC 45 ('Melon Festival Decision').
[24] National Retail Association Limited, Union of Employers [2021] QIRC 155 ('Chinchilla Show Decision'),
[25] Chinchilla Show Decision (n 24) [30].
[26] Re: National Retail Association Limited, Union of Employers [2022] QIRC 093.
[28] Melon Festival Decision (n 15) [62].
[29] Melon Festival Decision (n 15) [60].
[30] National Retail Association Limited, Union of Employers [2021] QIRC 199 ('2021 Show Decision'); National Retail Association Limited, Union of Employers [2022] QIRC 206; National Retail Association Limited, Union of Employers [2023] QIRC 185; National Retail Association, Union of Employers (Mount Isa Agricultural Show) [2024] QIRC 147.
[31] 2021 Show Decision (n 15) [51].
National Retail Association Limited, Union of Employers [2019] QIRC 112.
National Retail Association Limited, Union of Employers [2021] QIRC 155.
National Retail Association Limited, Union of Employers [2021] QIRC 199.
National Retail Association Limited, Union of Employers [2022] QIRC 206.
National Retail Association Limited, Union of Employers [2023] QIRC 185
National Retail Association Limited, Union of Employers [2025] QIRC 45
National Retail Association, Union of Employers (Mount Isa Agricultural Show) [2024] QIRC 147
National Retail Association Limited, Union of Employers (the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo) [2021] QIRC 254.
Re: National Retail Association Limited, Union of Employers [2018] QIRC 118.
Re: National Retail Association Limited, Union of Employers [2022] QIRC 093