Posted on: 05 October 2022
South Australians have had their ability to shop in the suburbs on the Labour Day public holiday taken away as the Malinauskas Labor Government delivers its new approach to shop trading hours.
The proposed changes are currently before State Parliament, however Labor’s approach has seen a return to confusing rules that mean many suburban shops are again unable to trade on public holidays.
Exempt shops can trade if they are:
Shadow Treasurer Matt Cowdrey said the Liberal Party has changed its position on shop trading hours but Labor’s decision to deny businesses the option to open today is a “backwards step”.
“In many ways South Australians will feel like they’ve gone back in time today with shops shut up right across the state on the Labour Day public holiday,” he said.
“Peter Malinauskas’ current approach seeks to snatch away public holiday trading – robbing shoppers and business owners of the opportunity to spend and earn – in exchange for just two extra shopping hours on Sundays.
“The Opposition supports the government’s move to extend shop trading hours on Sundays, but we have also proposed some sensible amendments to better represent the needs of busy families and businesses.
“These include extending opening hours on weekends to 6pm and allowing shops to open on select public holidays such as Labour Day.
“The Opposition has been consulting on these amendments and we believe they strike the right balance between giving people freedom of choice and supporting local businesses.
“We have compromised on shop trading hours and we are calling on the government to be sensible and do the same thing when the legislation returns to Parliament.”