Premier facing union backlash over laws to ban paid parking at shopping centres but not hospitals

Government plans to make the sick, their families and staff pay for hospital parking – while rushing laws to ban fees at shopping centres – have been referred to the Employment Tribunal.

The state’s health services union will take action with the employment tribunal over the State Government’s refusal to scrap increased parking fees for hospital staff.

Premier Peter Malinauskas on Monday announced new laws would be rushed into parliament next week to stop greedy owners “fleecing” customers and workers at shopping centres.

While the Opposition said it supported the draft legislation in principle, it would review the government plans to block customer charges without council approval.

But the Premier, who said the new laws would cover more than 34,000sq m of land at centres such as Westfield Tea Tree Plaza, faced a mounting backlash over his refusal to scrap paid parking at hospitals.

While the powerful shoppies union welcomed the shopping centre changes, officials representing health workers were outraged.

On Tuesday morning, Health Services Union Branch secretary Billy Elrick said he was insulted by the new levies which will cost “severely fatigued” workers an extra $1200 annually.

Mr Elrick told ABC Radio Adelaide the state government had not consulted with the union over the changes.

“They haven’t consulted effectively, they have to under the enterprise agreement and we feel there’s no other option for us now but to escalate it to the South Australian Employment Tribunal,” Mr Elrick said.

Labor when in opposition was critical of hospital parking charges.

“It is ridiculous that as we find ourselves in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis and health crisis, the government considers this an appropriate time to burden health workers,” he said.

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation chief executive Elizabeth Dabars called the government’s move “absolute hypocrisy”, saying her members were “really, really, really, aggrieved”.

“We need to recognise and reward their service, which consistently exceeds all reasonable expectations,” she said. “To reimpose carparking fees at this time is an absolute insult to their hard work and dedication.”

Daniel Steele, 37, of Hackham, visited the Women’s and Children’s Hospital on Monday with two-year-old daughter Hope.

“It’s pretty ludicrous – my wife has been in hospital a lot of times and we’ve spent a lot of money on parking. It’s hard,” he said.

“If you’ve got someone in hospital, you should get a pass or a discount.”

Daniel Steele with his daughter Hope, 2, outside the Women’s and Children’s Hospital parking building. Picture: Emma Brasier

Opposition Leader David Speirs criticised a plan that prioritised shoppers over health staff saving lives.

“Everyone wants free carparking but the first in line for that luxury must be healthcare workers,” he said.

“How about a reversal on that shocking decision before more ‘populist Peter’ policy?”

Mr Malinauskas said he had not spoken to Mr Elrick since the union vowed to take action in the employment tribunal.

“I only spoke to the HSU secretary late last week. Today’s Tuesday, I can’t speak to them daily,” he said.

He said the government was willing to work with nurses on the issue.

“They are more than welcome, and I mean this sincerely, to raise this issue during the course of EBA negotiations and we are just about to start EBA negotiations with the nurses,” he said.

“If this is the predominant concern amongst the nurses’ union, we’re more than willing to contemplate that as part of the EBA negotiation process.”

However, he said the feedback the government had received from nurses and health professionals was “their number one ask of government is more staff”.

“And guess what, that’s exactly what we’re delivering.”

Mr Malinauskas said the new shopping centre carpark laws were being rushed into parliament because Westfield was poised to introduce boom gates at Tea Tree Plaza.

Speaking at TTP on Monday, Mr Malinauskas said it would save the average worker paying at least $35 a day or up to $9000 a year – figures denied by centre management.

The Premier said it honoured an election commitment.

But he rejected claims of hypocrisy by not banning paid parking at hospitals because that revenue was plugged back into the health system and not kept for profit.

“A major corporation of the size of Westfield is trying to fleece consumers and workers who work in shopping centres up to $9000 a year just to park their car,” the Premier said.

“It’s cost workers up to $35 a day, which equates to almost $9000 a year and that has a massive impact on a worker in what is already a rising cost-of-living environment.”

He said it would also avoid further “hip pocket pain”.

Westfield West Lakes already has paid parking.

Mr Malinauskas said paid parking at that centre would need to be reassessed as a result of the legislation.

“The local council consults with the local community before contemplating the approval of boom gates being installed, and Charles Sturt will be required to go through that process with West Lakes,” he said.

He said it was a possibility that paid parking would be removed as a result of that consultation process.

Last year Westfield lodged an application with the state government’s development assessment commission for paid parking infrastructure at TTP including bollards, pay stations, fencing and licence recognition technology.

Parking is already at a premium in the area with the former state government delaying plans to build a second Park ‘n’ Ride in the area, instead focusing on a new one in Golden Grove.

Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association state secretary Josh Peak said his shoppies union supported the laws to protect workers.

“This was planned to be a massive cash flow by huge corporations to fleece workers and customers in an environment where we’re seeing cost of living out of control,” he said.

“The idea that workers would have to pay something like $35 a day just to go to work is simply outrageous.

“That either they have to pay that money or risk their health, health and safety and cause chaos by parking in suburban streets.”

Tea Tree Gully Deputy mayor Lucas Jones said his council supported the move.

Parking at the centre is currently free, although there are time limits in place.

The council fines commuters on behalf of Westfield, with a particular focus on those who park at the plaza all day and travel into the city via the O-Bahn.

Tea Tree Plaza Westfield planned to enforce ticketless paid parking like many of its other centres in Adelaide. Picture: File

A Tea Tree Plaza spokeswoman said West Lakes parking costs was $3 a day.

“The proposed daily parking fee for retail staff will be an amount similar to the cost of public transport,” she said.

She said its data showed more than a third of spaces were not being used by customers.

“This is a major issue for both our retailers and customers trying to find a space,” she said.

“It’s widely known that on any given day at Westfield Tea Tree Plaza, our customers are competing with commuters and workers at other nearby facilities that charge for, or do not provide sufficient parking.”

She said numerous initiatives were being explored to help ease congestion including a “substantial period” of free parking.

“The vast majority of people who park at Westfield Tea Tree Plaza won’t pay for parking,” she added.