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SA Opposition promises to deregulate 'embarrassing' shopping hours

Saturday, 24 Sep 2016 09:59:03

The Opposition says current restrictions on trading hours are holding SA back. (ABC News: Nicola Gage)

South Australia's Opposition has said that if elected in the 2018 election it will deregulate retail trading hours in Adelaide that force shops to close early on weekends.

Current trading hours:

  • Monday to Friday - 12:00am to 9:00pm
  • Saturday - 12:00am to 5:00pm
  • Sunday - 11:00am to 5:00pm
  • Public holidays (CBD) - 11:00am to 5:00pm
  • Suburbs closed on public holidays

Proposed trading hours:

  • Monday to Friday - 12:00am to 9:00pm
  • Saturday - 12:00am to 9:00pm
  • Sunday - 12am to 9:00pm
  • Public holidays (including suburbs) 12:00am to 9:00pm

Current laws restrict trading in Adelaide on a Sunday to between 11:00am and 5:00pm for some businesses.

Shops in the CBD and suburbs must also close by 5:00pm on a Saturday.

The laws also prevent the sale of motor vehicles on Sundays or public holidays and some shops in the suburbs cannot open on public holidays at all.

Speaking at the SA Liberal Party's annual general meeting, Opposition Leader Steven Marshall said the laws were holding the state back.

"This is an issue which has plagued South Australia for a long period of time, it's been embarrassing when people have come from interstate or overseas," Mr Marshall said.

"They might have come to our football in South Australia yet when they've gone out to buy something at a supermarket on Sunday morning they've been told, 'come back at 11 o'clock'."

The Opposition is proposing to amend the laws to allow trading seven days a week from 12:00am to 9:00pm, including most public holidays.

Christmas Day, Good Friday and Anzac Day morning would be excluded from the changes.

Mr Marshall said the Opposition would also remove restrictions on the sale of motor vehicles on Sundays and public holidays.

Restrictions provide family balance: SA Government

But a Government spokesperson said it has struck the right balance between opening hours and ensuring workers have time off with their families.

"Steven Marshall's latest thought bubble is a win for large interstate corporate interests and a blow to small business who already have their hours deregulated," the spokesperson said.

The Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association (SDA) said the Opposition's proposed changes would deny retail workers the right to public holidays.

SDA secretary Sonia Romeo slammed the Opposition for not consulting with retail workers over the proposed changes.

"Shops are only closed in suburban Adelaide for 11 days out of the year and retail workers deserve the right to take a day off on a public holiday every now and then just like everyone else in the community," Ms Romeo said.

"The proposal doesn't make economic sense — consumers won't suddenly have more money to spend just because the shops are open for longer or on public holidays."

AustraliaPlus


 

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