Posted on: 08 January 2024
Boxing Day bargain hunters are being bamboozled by Labor’s retail trading rules today that allow South Australians to purchase a flat screen television at shopping centres across Adelaide – but not a carton of milk.
Under the regulations, supermarkets that have a retail floor greater than 400 square metres must remain closed today while every other store can open from 9am to 5pm.
It means at South Australia’s largest shopping centre in Marion shoppers can grab a new pair of jeans or a vacuum cleaner – but a loaf of bread or a packet of dog food from a supermarket is out of the question.
While the Liberal Opposition is not in favour of full deregulation, it believes there should be a sensible compromise and businesses should be given the choice to open on public holidays – except on Anzac Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Christmas Day.
Shadow Treasurer, Matt Cowdrey, said South Australia’s restrictive shop trading hours should evolve with the times.
“In less than a week, South Australians will be celebrating the start of 2024 – but with Peter Malinauskas it feels like we’ve been sent back to 1964 due to his archaic shop trading rules,” Mr Cowdrey said.
“South Australians are just completely confused when it comes to Adelaide’s public holiday retail trading hours and Boxing Day is certainly no exception.
“It’s ridiculous that you can walk into a shopping centre today and see that the majority of stores are open, but others next to them are closed simply because of their floor size or what they sell.
“In fact, it’s quite bizarre that the rules Labor have placed on shopping centres across Adelaide today favour the sale of luxury items over everyday essentials.
“Labor has admitted there is an appetite in South Australia for a further loosening of trading hours by allowing shops to open until midnight on Black Friday.
“While we don’t believe there should be full deregulation, there needs to be a reasonable balance and we believe opening on public holidays - except for Anzac Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Christmas Day - should be left up to personal choice.”