Treasurer Rob Lucas to reheat SA’s shop trading debate in State Parliament
The Treasurer will go back to Parliament with a new bid to open up Adelaide’s shopping hours – and this time a final decision should be made by the year’s end.
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A fresh bid to deregulate Adelaide’s shop trading hours will be put to Parliament when it returns from winter break, with a decision to be made one way or the other by Christmas.
Treasurer Rob Lucas announced a series of temporary trading extensions during the peak of coronavirus concerns, citing health advice that more hours would allow better distancing.
However, that was brought to an end this week as SA continues to crush the curve.
Under SA’s current shop trading laws, labelled “crazy” and “archaic” by the State Government, exemptions can be granted for some special occasions.
Mr Lucas has used that power to allow suburban Boxing Day trading and the Black Friday sales. However, the laws also say it cannot be used so often as to undermine the intent of having restrictions.
Mr Lucas told The Advertiser the COVID period and opinion polls showed a clear public appetite for more shopping hours, and he would have a second crack at reform this year.
Shop trading hours deregulation was a signature election campaign pledge from Premier Steven Marshall, but shot down afterwards by Labor and the Upper House crossbench.
Mr Lucas said that the COVID trial had disproved claims from opponents that “the sky would fall in” if people were given more freedom to go shopping at nights and on weekends.
He flagged an all-or-nothing bid as rival parties would be asked to back full deregulation and a Labor offer to just permit 9am openings instead of 11am on Sundays would be rejected.
“The proposition is that sometime in September or October ... to test the waters again,” Mr Lucas said. “We are not moving. One hour here or there isn’t what people really want.
“They have tasted the great value of being able to have four months of choice in terms of trading hours. The sky didn’t fall in as the Labor Party claimed it would.
“We actually had some of the independent supermarkets trading extended hours.”
Mr Lucas said he was “not holding my breath” about getting support to pass it.
“Our view would be to determine it one way or another prior to the end of the year,” he said.
SA Independent Retailers spokesman Colin Shearing said the recent period of extended trading had been “disastrous” for smaller stores, who were losing money. He said income for smaller retailers was down 25 per cent on weekends and 50 per cent on public holidays.
“It’s actually vindicated that people don’t want to shop those extra hours,” Mr Shearing said.
“It’s what we always said. If you only have $100 to spend, you aren’t going to spend any more money because shops are open longer. It’s not going to happen.
“Many stores closed early. “We are not budging on our position.”
Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas said the smaller shops had been essential starting points for iconic local brands like Spring Gully and Golden North to get their products on shelves.
“All the evidence says that total deregulation in a way that only benefits the duopoly undermines jobs growth in our state,” Mr Malinauskas said.
“The independent supermarket sector employs a lot more people, per dollar through the till, than Coles and Woolworths.”
Mr Malinauskas said he made the offer of earlier Sunday openings as a “compromise”.
He said workers could have extended hours when they were already rostered for 11am on a Sunday, but more public holiday trading would deny them and families a full day off.
Independent MP John Darley, the Greens and SA Best say they still oppose change. That leaves the Liberals as the only party supporting deregulation, and unable to pass it.