SA shop trading hours: Get with the 21st century, we need to deregulate shopping times

TO the South Australians vehemently against deregulating shopping hours, to the two SA Best MPs who say the likelihood of them supporting any changes are “remote” and to the state’s out-of-date, controlling unions — get with the 21st century.

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TO the South Australians vehemently against deregulating shopping hours, to the two SA Best MPs who say the likelihood of them supporting any changes are “remote” and to the state’s out-of-date, controlling unions — get with the 21st century.

As a young South Australian who is passionate about this state and its future (and, I’ll admit, a self-confessed shop-a-holic), I’m amazed there is opposition to the new Liberal Government plan to relax archaic retail trading hours in SA.

Put simply, our current shopping hours do not match the fast-paced society we live in. (We can’t even buy an emergency block of Cadbury Dairymilk for compulsory Married At First Sight viewing past 5pm on a Sunday. That is, unless you want to pay through the roof servo prices.)

Shoppers flock to Rundle Mall for the Boxing Day Sales on December 26, 2018. Picture: Calum Robertson

There is no doubt, in the past few decades our lifestyles have changed. We want convenience and options more than ever before.

Want a pair of Nike runners or a you-beaut Breville toaster at 11pm on a Wednesday night? That’s fine, just head to Amazon.

Shopping online is convenient, sure. But online retailers are taking away dollars from South Australian young people and families — everyone — because many of us are not heading to traditional bricks and mortar stores anymore. And, it’s hurting businesses big time.

So, why then, does it not make sense to allow traders to open later, longer and on days they previously couldn’t, to bring back the convenience to you and me?

I know I’d prefer the luxury of physically trying on a pair of runners than buying them online.

If it meant I was supporting South Australians and jobs, I’d even be prepared to pay a smidgen more for them.

There is the argument from the unions and Labor that relaxing shopping hours will hurt small business, with the pressure of rising utility costs and penalty rates.

Other union arguments on the SDA’s website (the union for workers in retail, food and warehousing), include: “Longer trading hours = limited family time”.

Please. In a state that has one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation, people are crying out for work to pay bills, to be able to support their families.

Another union argument is: “Less choice for consumers = higher prices”, with the view independent retailers will be forced to shut down as a result of deregulation.

The flip side of that argument is both small and big businesses will be forced to shut down if we don’t make change. Everyone is turning online and some of the nation’s biggest retailers, like Myer, are facing the very real possibility of permanent closure.

It would mean hundreds, if not thousands, of retail workers would lose their jobs.

How is small business expected to compete with online if they can’t even open their doors? This gives them choice and brings us in line with the rest of Australia.

Aside from WA, South Australia has the most restrictive trading hours in the country.

New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, the Northern Territory (yes, even the NT) and the ACT all have totally, or almost completely, deregulated shopping hours.

People who seriously know what they’re talking about, such as Business SA’s chief executive Nigel McBride, support the Liberal proposal.

Business SA CEO Nigel McBride supports deregulation. AAP Image/David Mariuz.

He believes deregulation will provide more choice for consumers, more jobs and argues the “naysayers” who say SA doesn’t have the population to support any change, are wrong.

In Tasmania, retail turnover grew by 7.8 per cent in the four years post-deregulation, compared to the national average of 5.8 per cent.

Since Victoria deregulated shopping hours nine years ago, the number of small retailers grew by 29 per cent, compared to 13 per cent in years prior.

As a former retail worker, I’ve seen both sides of the picture.

While studying at uni, I worked in a homewares business for five years.

I worked whenever I could between uni — on weekends, during the week and on public holidays. The money was great and helped me get ahead.

The owners of the small business wanted to give their customers choice. Choice for people to shop when they wanted and choice to shop when they had time — and that included days they had to pay us penalty rates.

Another laughable point to make about our dinosaur shopping hours, is that under current legislation, you can buy hardware on a Sunday but it’s illegal to sell a car. There is absolutely no consistency here.

In order for our new Premier Steven Marshall to get these laws over the line, he’ll need support from the Upper House and that includes SA Best — the party that so spectacularly failed on March 17.

After 16 years of Labor, the people voted a Liberal Government.

Let’s now give Mr Marshall the chance to implement the platforms he was elected for and allow him to steer our great state to its full potential.

SA Liberal leader Steven Marshall after his victory in the state election.