SA Liberals’ plan to extend shopping hours met with mixed reaction from business sector
BUSINESS groups are divided over whether the state should deregulate shopping hours to allow more trading on public holidays and weekends.
BUSINESS groups are divided over whether the state should deregulate shopping hours to allow more trading on public holidays and weekends, with warnings this could hurt small operators.
Opposition Leader Steven Marshall announced plans at the weekend to free up opening hours, saying the state’s current “embarrassing” restrictions limited choice for businesses and shoppers.
However, the nation’s peak small business group has told The Advertiser it will oppose any change and demanded strong protections for owner-operators if any goes ahead.
The head of Romeo Retail Group, which runs 25 locally owned Foodland supermarkets, has also called for deregulation to be limited to earlier opening on Sundays, to meet clear consumer demand.
Current restrictions apply to general shops over 200sqm or supermarkets larger than 400sqm.
Stores below those sizes, and in specified country areas, are already deregulated.
Mr Marshall yesterday said the change would create new jobs by boosting consumer spending, and the state faced high unemployment and economic stagnation without “bold reforms”.
“To be a 21st century economy we need to cut regulation and give consumers and businesses the freedom to trade,” he said yesterday.
Small Business Council of Australia chief executive Peter Strong said he feared the owners of small stores in large complexes like those run by Westfield would be forced by their landlords to open at times when they would rather close, and be punished if they refused to do so.
“We need a strictly enforced law saying landlords can not force someone to open,” Mr Strong said.
“They (the Liberals) are giving more power to landlords to screw over small business.
“It’s the big end of town, the Coles and Woolies’ of the world, getting what they want.”
Mr Strong said high penalty rates that would have to be paid under extended opening hours would mean many small operators would lose money if required to open.
Romeo Retail Group company director Joseph Romeo said he was “really comfortable” with current trading hours, but that there may be merit in allowing opening before 11am on Sundays.
“We would embrace opening at 9am on a Sunday instead of 11am, because I believe that would satisfy any potential consumer needs in Adelaide,” he said.
“The way our market is in Adelaide has been successful for a number of years, with big and small businesses working alongside.
“There’s no need to be 24 hours, and I think that would be ridiculous in Adelaide.
“The same spending would be spread over more time and the business becomes less efficient.”
Business SA chief executive Nigel McBride said the vast majority of local operators wanted some deregulation, which would also create jobs by increasing the number of working hours.
“When you look at the unfair playing field between a CBD which is deregulated, regions when you can open whenever you like and metro who are regulated, you have to say it’s not level,” he said.
“It would also be better for the visitor economy, which is going ahead strongly.
“The logic of it overall in building a stronger economy is pretty compelling.”
Mr McBride said consultation on detail was needed before any proposal became law.
Labor opposes the change, which could only happen if the Liberals win the 2018 election.