Treasurer Rob Lucas says people want deregulated shop trading hours, as latest Bill is shot down in the upper house

The state government will keep pushing to deregulate shop trading hours, even as parliament shoots down the proposed laws – and as Business SA pulls its support.

The state government will stand firm on its policy of giving shops the power to trade when they want, Treasurer Rob Lucas has vowed, even as Business SA pulls its support for the proposed laws.

Mr Lucas insists he has the support of South Australian “punters” and that the policy is not based on what the state’s peak business body thinks.

Labor and the Upper House crossbench on Thursday afternoon convincingly shot down the government’s Bill that would deregulate shop trading hours, as well as a second Bill that would let South Australians decide in a referendum.

But the Liberal government will continue campaigning for the issue in the lead-up to the March 2022 state election.

Premier Steven Marshall told parliament on Thursday SA’s current shop trading laws were “embarrassing”.

“People come over here from interstate, they go out to do some shopping late on a Saturday afternoon – closed, completely and utterly closed,” he said.

Mr Lucas believed Business SA boss Martin Haese had always been a “strong opponent” to shop trading hours reform: “We respectfully disagree with (Business SA’s) position, as we did with their swimming pool in the Torrens idea.”

The Advertiser revealed on Thursday Business SA had withdrawn its endorsement of full deregulation over fears the effects on small businesses would be too harsh.

Instead, Business SA would prefer a Labor-style policy allowing extended shopping hours at weekends and regular trading on Boxing Day.

Mr Lucas said the government’s policy was based on “70 per cent support from families and households” – and that shoppers would continue supporting small, independent retailers even with deregulation.

“The position the government is adopting is strongly supported by punters,” he said.

“The research for individuals says they will continue to support independent retailers in South Australia, because they provide a particular niche in the market.”

Treasurer Rob Lucas says SA “punters” support the government’s deregulation policy. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Industry groups on Thursday welcomed Business SA’s decision to walk back its support.

The state’s powerful shoppies union – the SDA – wrote to Mr Haese lauding his “common-sense approach”.

“I know and you know that allowing all shops to open 24 hours a day, seven days a week won’t do any good for South Australia,” union boss Josh Peak wrote.

“It won’t do any good for retail workers’ pay packets, their workers hours or their work/life balance.”

Independent Retailers chief executive Colin Shearing also welcomed Business SA’s decision, but said he still prefers no change to current laws.

Opposition leader Peter Malinauskas said Labor supports “modest, sensible changes” to shop trading hours.

“Steven Marshall’s plan would hurt local family-owned businesses and their workers,” he said.

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