Treasurer Rob Lucas promises new shop trading laws by early July

DETERMINING which stores should continue to open on three key public holidays has delayed the drafting of new shop trading laws, the Treasurer says.

Treasurer Rob Lucas. Picture: David Mariuz

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DETERMINING which stores should continue to open on three key public holidays has delayed the drafting of new shop trading laws, Treasurer Rob Lucas says.

But he insisted legislation will be put to Parliament by the first week of July.

The Liberal Government promised to introduce the laws to expand shop trading hours within 100 days of taking power at the March 17 state election.

Mr Lucas said the Government would put the necessary legislation to Parliament “either the week before or after the 100-day magic mark” in late June.

He said there had been “some complications” in finalising “the further restrictions that still have to apply for two-and-a-half days in the year – Good Friday, Christmas Day and Anzac Day morning”.

“You still have to have a complicated series of (rules about) who can trade and who can’t trade on those two-and-a-half days,” he said.

The Government needs at least three crossbench MPs to support its legislation to pass, and is working on gaining support from two SA Best MPs and independent John Darley, who have all expressed concerns.

The Labor Opposition warns that deregulating shop trading hours will advantage major retailers at the expense of smaller businesses.

Labor treasury spokesman Stephen Mullighan said the Government was “refusing to introduce” its legislation because it was “running scared” in the face of opposition from small business owners.

“Under a concerted campaign, (Premier) Steven Marshall is having to rethink his shop trading hours reforms,” Mr Mullighan said.

He argued it was “not a complex” piece of legislation.

“If they have a mandate (for change), where’s the Bill?” he said.

Mr Lucas insisted that the Government would “continue to argue the case right through until the next election” if its Bill was not supported by enough MPs.

“Freedom of choice is inevitable,” he said.