Hindering business growth.
Opposition Leader Steven Marshall (pictured) has pledged to deregulate shop trading hours in South Australia if the Liberals win Saturday’s election.
He said the retail trading hours harm businesses and restrict choice for consumers. “If we want South Australian businesses to compete in the 21st century, we need to remove outdated regulations that inhibit their growth. We need our shop trading hours to reflect the society we live in.”
Marshall said many stores in prime shopping districts are not able to operate on Sunday mornings, public holidays or be open past 5pm on weekends. “We are now living in a fully globalised world; you can order food at the click of a button, you can buy clothes online in the middle of the night, you can book a hotel in London on your smartphone.”
The current shop trading hour restrictions only apply to some prescribed shopping areas in the metro area, but not in most regional areas. “Restrictive trading hours are not reflective of how South Australians live their lives. They deserve the opportunity to choose how and when they shop, and traders deserve the right to choose when they open to take advantage of busy shopping periods,” he said.
The plan
The Marshall Liberal Government would introduce amendments to the Shop Trading Hours Act to reduce red tape and liberalise trading hours.
- Greater Adelaide Shopping District (CBD and suburbs) open Monday-Saturday – midnight to 9:00pm
- Greater Adelaide Shopping District and CBD open Sunday and Public Holidays (except Christmas Day, Good Friday, Anzac Day morning) – midnight to 9:00pm
- Proclaimed Shopping Districts open Monday-Saturday – midnight to 9:00pm
- Proclaimed Shopping Districts open Sunday and Public Holidays (except Christmas Day, Good Friday, Anzac Day morning) – midnight to 9:00pm
Steven Marshall says the changes will provide an enormous boost to local business, greater chopice and flexibility for consumers, and more opportunities for South Australians working in retail. “This also means that businesses will be able to employ more staff and create new jobs.”
He concluded: “These reforms to our shop trading hours are long overdue. We want to give choice back to South Australians.”