Wollongong businesses could take advantage of the biggest retail trading day of the year under a government plan to remove "archaic" restrictions.
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A re-elected Baird government will amend retail trading laws to allow all shops to open on Boxing Day.
The promise has been labelled a win by the Illawarra Business Chamber (IBC), but slammed by the union representing retail, warehouse and fast-food workers.
IBC chief executive Debra Murphy said the move would fix the uneven playing field that was "highly pronounced" in the region.
Retailers in Shellharbour, Kiama, Wingecarribee and Sydney's CBD can trade on Boxing Day if they choose, but Wollongong businesses - and the more than 7500 people they employ - miss out.
"It's the biggest retail trading day of the year and it [the promise] means Wollongong, and the investment we've made in the city centre, could actually benefit," Ms Murphy said.
"Allowing all Illawarra businesses to open on Boxing Day also provides a leg up for bricks and mortar retailers who have to compete with 24/7 internet shopping."
Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association NSW secretary Bernie Smith said the move showed "a real disregard for the very limited amount of family time retail workers still have left".
"For our members, if you take Boxing Day off them what it means is they lose Christmas," Mr Smith said. "Christmas just isn't Christmas without Boxing Day to retail workers.
"The Premier and the Treasurer, I hope, will enjoy those days with their family and friends, like they should; let retail workers do the same."
Owner of Lower East Cafe in Crown Street, Blake Johnson, said he opened on December 26 "because everyone else closes".
NSW Treasurer Andrew Constance said no employee would be required to work on Boxing Day, unless they chose to, and that provision in the Retail Trading Act would be maintained.
Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Anzac Day (until 1pm) and Christmas Day would remain restricted trading days under the government's plan.
andrew.pearson@fairfaxmedia.com.au