Chris Minns bans retail trade to restore respect to Anzac Day, NRL games to remain
Premier Chris Minns banned trade saying he was concerned about a “creeping commercialism” on the day that brings all Australians together, but the NRL fixtures will remain.
NSW
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NRL matches on Anzac Day will continue to be played, with Premier Chris Minns saying the fixtures would be kept despite ushering in a ban on retail trade until midnight.
Mr Minns confirmed rugby league games would continue to be played on the day, saying ongoing negotiations between the RSL and the management of the NRL had resulted in the fixtures continuing to go ahead.
“It’s really important to note that that game came about as a result of long negotiations between the RSL and the rugby league,” he said Wednesday, while announcing the policy change which would see a ban on retail trade extended to midnight instead of to 1pm on the day.
“It’s important to note...that we don’t want Anzac Day to be a solitary day, we want the community to come together and commemorate those that served their country.
“If you go to that rugby league game...you would acknowledge that the Anzac spirit...is not incidental to the game.
“It’s central to the purpose of holding that event, now that’s not a decision that I’ve made, it’s a decision that the leadership of the RSL has made.”
It comes as he annouced retail trade will be banned on Anzac Day from next year with Premier Chris Minns moving to stop a “creeping commercialism” cheapening a day that he says “brings all Australians together”.
The premier has also moved to ban music festivals on April 25, and hit out at an Albanese government policy which has allowed public servants to “swap” their Anzac Day public holiday with another date.
From next year, retail trading restrictions will extend until midnight, rather than lifting at 1pm.
The restrictions will not apply to small businesses, businesses not considered retailers, or businesses with exemptions – like markets, cafes, chemists, newsagents and takeaway restaurants.
The majority of submissions to a review into Anzac Day trade last year supported a full-day ban.
Mr Minns said the full-day ban is a “crucially important” way to commemorate veterans and stop a “creeping commercialism” to the national day.
“We believe it’s crucially important in ensuring that we commemorate our Diggers and use Anzac Day in particular as an opportunity to respect those that have served their country,” he told The Daily Telegraph.
Mr Minns said Anzac Day is the “one day that pulls Australians together”.
“I think there’s been a creeping movement away from (Anzac Day) as an opportunity to commemorate those that serve the country, in particular those that gave their life on behalf of Australia,” Mr Minns said.
Mr Minns identified a major rock music festival on Anzac Day last year as an example of society “creeping” away from commemorating our veterans.
Anzac Day is “not a day for festivals,” Mr Minns said.
While the Premier wants to bring solemnity back to Anzac Day, he said traditions like two-up at the pub and football games held in consultation with the RSL are the exception.
The Premier also hit out at the concept of “swapping” the Anzac Day public holiday to take a different day of leave.
Before the 2022 election, the Morrison government moved to ban public servants from swapping the Anzac Day public holiday for another date.
The Albanese government reversed that ban after taking office.
Asked about the leave-swapping policy, Mr Minns said he would “generally not prefer that take place”.
“I don’t like the idea of swapping it out,” he said.
Extending current retail bans to the entire day has been a longstanding campaign of the retail workers union, the SDA. Anzac Day will join Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Christmas Day with full-day retail trade bans.
The move came as the Premier announced that a new war memorial dedicated to honouring veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan will be built in the Domain, where Australia’s first Anzac Day service was held in 1916.
The $2 million memorial makes good on an election commitment from Mr Minns, to recognise the service and sacrifice of contemporary veterans who served in the Middle East.
“Establishing a new memorial is not just about honouring the past, but also about acknowledging the ongoing contributions and sacrifices of our contemporary veterans,” Mr Minns said.
RSL NSW President Mick Bainbridge welcomed the extension of retail trade bans.
“Too often, the pastoral needs of veterans, and the friends and families who support them, are overlooked. This is an opportunity for them to take time away from work on this special day to commemorate their service,” he said.
He agreed that there has been a “creeping commercialisation” of Anzac Day which the Premier has now moved to address.
Mr Bainbridge also welcomed a dedicated memorial to the Middle East conflict, saying that it would give 40,000 servicemen and servicewomen who fought in Australia’s longest military engagement a place to “contemplate their service”.
Veterans Affairs Minister David Harris said extending trading restrictions will ensure “the sanctity of remembrance is given the status it deserves” on Anzac Day.
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