For all suburban retailers.
In a South Australian first, the Marshall Liberal Government has announced it will give all retailers in suburban Adelaide the opportunity to trade on Boxing Day.
Treasurer Rob Lucas has made the decision to grant the special exemption under the Shop Trading Hours Act 1977 in response to strong demand from consumers and retailers and will capitalise on an influx of tourists during the holiday season.
The move, which brings South Australia in line with other states, will enable suburban stores to open their doors from 9:00am to 5:00pm on Wednesday, December 26 – if they choose.
Shop trading hours on Boxing Day will also be extended in the CBD by an additional two hours, so they can open from 9:00am instead of 11:00am.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for South Australian retailers and consumers who, for far too long, have been crying out for extended trading on Boxing Day beyond the CBD,” Treasurer Lucas said.
“We know the Christmas period is one of the biggest and busiest for retailers and the interstate experience tells us trading on Boxing Day can generate significant additional sales, while creating valuable employment opportunities for those staff who’d like to work.
“The argument in favour of this move is no different to the argument Labour Governments and Labour Ministers have used in the past in extending shopping hours in the lead up to Christmas, including non-stop 24-hour trading.
“Importantly, no employee will be forced to work on Boxing Day. To reinforce this, the exemption – which is the same that has been used in previous years – contains a condition that all employees working during this period will do so on a strictly voluntary basis.
“This exemption offers retailers, consumers and employees the freedom to open, shop and work if they so choose.”
Lucas has also approved extended retail trading hours in the lead up to Christmas.
“These extended hours in the lead up to Christmas are entirely consistent with the decisions made by the former Labour government,” he said.