Retailers launch campaign against shopping hours deregulation in SA

A COALITION of small business groups, including the father of a senior State Government minister, have launched a new campaign aimed at killing off expanded shop trading hours.

• Study shows most of us want longer shopping hours
• SA business groups push for changes to Sunday trading laws

THE battle over shop trading hours has split a prominent South Australian family, as businessman Franz Knoll campaigns against the State Government in which his son is a senior minister.

The Barossa Fine Foods founder is part of a coalition of small business groups aiming to stop deregulation.

The Government may not meet its promise of bringing legislation to expand trading hours to parliament within its first 100 days, due to complications drafting the laws.

The Government also faces an uphill battle in Parliament, as the Opposition and key crossbenchers including two new SA Best MPs oppose reform.

Franz Knoll, the father of Transport Minister Stephan Knoll, have joined the SA Independent Retailers Association and other industry groups as they launched a multimedia blitz that intends to turn public support against change.

Franz Knoll, right, with Mitch Sperou. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Franz Knoll said SA’s market was “delicately balanced” and smaller traders would face increased costs from more trading hours that could not be offset by increased sales.

“The uniqueness of the SA market is what has enabled us to gain critical mass,” he said.

“Longer shopping hours are not going to give people any more money to spend.

“What we have now is a good blend that allows people to innovate and expand.

“If you hollow that out, it’s not going to be possible to go into those bigger markets.”

The family business has four brands, having recently acquired fishmonger Angelakis Bros.

Franz Knoll said he had discussed shop trading with his son, a member of state Cabinet, and understood they had differing views given his “position as part of the Government”.

Stephan Knoll said “deregulating shop trading hours will create jobs and provide a level field for all businesses” and “Dad and I have been disagreeing about this policy for years”.

“I will use the next few family dinners to try and change his mind!” he said.

SA Independent Retailers Association chief executive Colin Shearing said deregulation “will only benefit big interstate chains like Coles and Woolworths”, at the expense of small stores.

“SA-owned businesses will be forced to trade longer hours to stay afloat or shut their doors if deregulation goes ahead,” Mr Shearing said.

“There is no demand for deregulation of trading hours and absolutely no economic benefit to small SA-owned businesses.

“Deregulation will see shifts of local store profits, will see interstate chain stores killing off the competition and will lead to high prices at the checkout for consumers.”

Premier Steven Marshall said Labor and the unions had “teamed up” to “slow down our economy”.

“I don’t know what they’ve got against employment,” he said. “What we know is that if we deregulate shop trading hours we will have more jobs in SA, and that’s a good thing.

“We’re not forcing anybody to open. Those who don’t want to open don’t have to.

“The vast majority of South Australians want more shop trading hours, and that’s what they voted for at the election.”

Mr Marshall said the Productivity Commission predicted huge economic benefit from change. The proposed reforms would permit earlier trading on Sundays, later trading on the weekends and expand the ability to shop on public holidays beyond restricted areas such as the Adelaide CBD.

Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas said small business was critical to the SA economy and “we should be doing everything we can to support them, not hurt them”.

“We’re on the side of small business and the little guy. We’re going to give (the Government) one hell of a fight.”

SA Best MP Frank Pangallo feared deregulation would “devastate” small enterprise.

“This includes independent stores like IGA, that take advantage of big supermarkets having to close early on weekends and open late on Sunday,” he said. “Proposed new shop trading laws is an aggressive push by the big end of town that will force out small independent retailers.”

Mr Pangallo said SA was well-served by having independent retailers as 30 per cent of its market share, more than in any other state.