Australian Officials Deny Major Retailers Permission To Open On Easter

In the Australian state of New South Wales, the Shop Trading Act 2008 requires retail stores to be closed on Good Friday, Easter, Christmas, Boxing Day and until 1:00 p.m. on Anzac Day. The Act exempts small shops, shops offering various sorts of food and entertainment as well as hotels. It also provides that the Department of commerce can grant exemptions to other stores. NineMSN reported yesterday that a number of major retailers have been refused an exemption that would allow them to be open on Easter Sunday this year.