Poll reveals massive support for shop deregulation as Pangallo hints at trial amid virus crisis
State politicians are warming to the idea of deregulating shopping hours as a new poll shows South Australians of all political persuasions back the move.
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Seven out of 10 South Australians believe all shops should be allowed to open whenever they want, exclusive new polling shows.
As the State Government prepares another push for deregulated trading hours, a Sunday Mail YouGov poll shows that just 27 per cent of people surveyed, regardless of political persuasion, are against it.
But it appears the Government still has a fight on its hands. Labor leader Peter Malinauskas will support 9am trading for Sundays but wants 10 public holidays a year protected, over fears deregulation will cost jobs.
Treasurer Rob Lucas said the Government would not support Labor’s plan, adding that it would become a key election issue when SA went to the polls in 2022.
But SA Best MP Frank Pangallo has opened the door for a three to six-month trial if it would help contain the spread of COVID-19 – and possibly even broader support.
“I would support extended hours as a temporary emergency measure,” Mr Pangallo told the Sunday Mail.
His call came after the West Australian Government released a pandemic plan that suggested giving people more choice, and more space, to go supermarket shopping.
Mr Pangallo said SA Best could also change its tune on shop trading if alcohol were allowed on supermarkets shelves.
“If he (Mr Lucas) allowed this progressive move, which opens up new income streams for IGAs and independents and our local wine and liquor producers, we would reconsider our opposition to deregulation,” Mr Pangallo said.
“In the meantime, I can warm to the idea of opening earlier and closing later on Sundays.”
Shopping Centre Council of Australia executive director Angus Nardi was not surprised by the survey results that echoed results in the Sunday Mail’s Your Say SA 2020 Vision survey. More than about 60 per cent of respondents supported deregulated trading for the past three years.
“Our analysis on foot traffic, credit-card, and other data highlights extended trading can see a net increase to customer demand and retail spending,” Mr Nardi said.
“Further, we’ve found that for every dollar spent in a larger retailer, $3 is spent in a smaller retailer, which highlights the benefits can spread to small business and that the reform debate shouldn’t get bogged down about supermarket issues.
“We think there are structural reform priorities, such as Sunday mornings, but key retail events (including Boxing Day and Black Friday) are increasingly important.”
Mr Lucas, who has already used special discretionary powers to allow trading in suburban shopping centres on Boxing Day, and extended trading for Black Friday, said the polling results “is affirmation that there is strong support” for the Marshall Government’s push for greater choice.
“More and more families are wanting to shop at different times,” he said.
Mr Lucas said he wanted wider regulation than “just a few hours on a Sunday morning” in reference to Labor’s agreement for Sunday morning trading.
Mr Lucas said the Government did not support alcohol being available in supermarkets and would take advice from public health officers about deregulated hours during the coronavirus pandemic.
Exclusive YouGov polling released by The Advertiser on Friday showed at the halfway point of the Steven Marshall-led Government, Labor had flipped the 2018 election result and took a 53-47 two-party preferred lead.
Mr Malinauskas said keeping people in work now was more important than ever, and deregulation of trading hours would cost jobs.
“The Independent Retailers Association has made it clear, total deregulation will hurt small and medium business and cost jobs,” he said. “That why I’m only supporting an extension of trading hours from 9-11am on Sundays.”