DUBBO Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Matt Wright hopes the spread of Boxing Day sales across NSW will return the spotlight to penalty rates.
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He'd like to see an official review of them to make it easier for businesses, especially in the hospitality industry, open their doors.
Dispensing with penalty rates is not the goal of the chamber and its president, rather finding "middle ground".
NSW Treasurer and Minister for Industrial Relations Gladys Berejiklian has announced new legislation will permit all shops in NSW to open on Boxing Day, subject to staff "freely electing to work".
She said "no employee can be forced to work and no shop can be forced to open".
Ms Berejiklian said the legislation would create a level playing field for retailers and support jobs.
"For small business owners and local communities, this means local dollars in local shops," she said.
"The opportunity for local shops to open their doors for such a major day of trading cannot be underestimated."
Mr Wright said the response at Dubbo to the Treasurer's announcement was mixed because some businesses operated out of shopping centres and some didn't.
He said it remained to be seen if businesses in shopping centres would be able to decide for themselves whether to trade on Boxing Day and cast doubt on the likes of hairdressers making a profit if forced to trade.
"I wouldn't imagine many shoppers would take advantage of getting a hair cut on Boxing Day," Mr Wright said.
The president said businesses operating on the streets of Dubbo were weighing up the option of trading.
"The big one with those guys is that they like the idea of choice," the president said.
Mr Wright expects Dubbo's central business district will have "a bit of atmosphere" on Boxing Day.
"I think we'll see some of those major retail chains opening their doors," he said.
The president imagines that in "multicultural" Dubbo, business owners who do not observe Christmas may join them.
Mr Wright said some small business owners may seek to reduce the cost of opening on Boxing Day by putting themselves on the roster.
"If business owners decide to take that stance and work themselves, and not have to pay the penalty rates to employees, then there's really no benefit to the employee," he said.
The president said the chamber was "all for seeing higher levels of employment".