Special entitlements for Queensland employees have been approved by the state parliament as the government announced on Friday that this year's Christmas and New Year holidays would cost taxpayers up to $19 million in penalty rates.

In justifying its initiatives, the Queensland government said that it's only fair to give out additional penalty rates for workers manning their posts on a holiday which the opposition supported though it noted that the measure would cost employers considerable amounts.

Opposition spokesman Bruce Flegg conceded that the additional burden to business operators was wholly justifiable but he stressed that "it would be remiss to let a bill go through without at least making people aware that that will be something that they can expect."

Also, deputy opposition leader Lawrence Springborg reminded that the initiative would also cost taxpayers' money as he pointed out that "Queenslanders do have a right to know, it is their taxpayers' money anyway."

On his part, Industrial Relations Minister Cameron Dick shared that the opposition seemed supportive of the measures during the debate as he acknowledged that $19 million was indeed substantial though he reiterated that "we make no apologies for that and I certainly hope the opposition won't be making an issue of that in the community."

Meanwhile, the United Retail Production (URF) said that measures allowing for additional penalty rates for workers would lead to higher consumer goods prices for the holidays as URF spokesman Scott Driscoll admitted that "those extra burdens via those increased wages penalties will have to be passed on to consumers."

On the other hand, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) said that the new laws would serve as a bitter pill that needs to be swallowed by business operators for the sole purpose of not spoiling the holiday spirit on such moments.

CCIQ president David Goodwin noted though that "it is one of those times that you don't want to be stingy with the workers, but some small businesses are obligated under lease requirements to open on such days where they wouldn't otherwise want to open, but they have to open when they actually end up losing money."