How you can help
If you have a problem or an issue with extra trading hours try and speak to your local mayor or councillor.

You can arrange a meeting with the person you would like to help you solve the problem. If you need help try and contact Rob Messenger because he is the QLD Small Business Shadow Minister. Try his website http://www.robmessenger.com/ . We did!

You can also contact your state's Small Business Council to help or you could contact your Local Council about the problem .

Take the challenge and buy from the small business not the large businesses.

Rob Messenger (MP) was very helpful. He listened to our problems and promised to take the issue up in Shadow Cabinet. He took a copy of Olivia's narrative to show to other politicians in parliament.

He is also very passionate about the issue and is conducting research into the affects of extra trading hours in regional communities.

After talking to us he said he was more aware of the family problems caused by extra trading hours on the children of parents who own a small business. He was once a small business owner himself and is aware of the demands it makes on a family.

There are more photos of our meeting with Mr Messenger in our Gallery.