SDA state secretary Josh Peak tells parliamentary committee move to deregulate shop trading hours was not based on evidence

The head of the retail union says there was no evidence to support the government’s decision to deregulate shop trading hours at the height of the pandemic.

A move to deregulate shop trading hours at the height of the coronavirus pandemic was “not logical” and not based on health advice, a committee has heard.

In March last year, Treasurer Rob Lucas announced South Australian shops would be allowed to trade 24 hours a day on weekdays to alleviate pressures and facilitate social distancing.

Mr Lucas says the decision was based on public health advice, and was supported by experts including chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier.

But, giving evidence before state parliament’s COVID-19 Response Committee, SDA state secretary Josh Peak said there was no evidence that the health advice existed.

“After questioning by the Labor opposition … senior government officials revealed that SA Health did not give any advice in relation to deregulating shop trading hours and its impact on social distancing,” he said on Thursday.

“So when (Mr Lucas) says the decision is supported by health advice, whose advice is it?”

The retail union says deregulated shop trading hours at the height of the pandemic did nothing to combat panic buying. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Mariuz

SDA state secretary Josh Peak. Picture: Supplied

Mr Peak said a number of FOI requests also failed to return any evidence that the decision was supported by experts.

“Trading hours decisions were made on a political basis, without medical evidence,” he said.

“It’s clear this issue has never been about South Australians’ health and safety, it’s always been about the government’s self-interest.”

He said extended trading hours gave people more time to panic buy by visiting multiple supermarkets

“It’s not logical when you think about what the industry actually needs to get through,” he said.

However, Mr Lucas said Mr Peak’s statements to the committee were “blatantly untrue”.

“The decisions we took in relation to (shop trading hours) were all based on public health advice, and it’s not only untrue but its political opportunism from the shoppies union if they’re claiming otherwise,” he said.

He said claims that extended trading hours exacerbated panic buying were “nonsensical”, pointing to cases in which supermarkets introduced specific shopping times for elderly people.

“Clearly it made sense to deregulate the trading hours,” he said.

In documents obtained under Freedom of Information by Labor, email correspondence reveals “public health advice remains supportive of any measures which can assist in physical distancing, including the continued exemption from restrictions to shop trading hours”.

The statement was contained in an email sent to Mr Lucas’ office by an adviser to Health Minister Stephen Wade when an extension was being considered in June. A similar email was sent in May.