LABOR parliamentarian Emily Bourke has cautioned the State Government to “watch out” for the Millicent community following the introduction of retail hour legislation into parliament.
Ms Bourke, who sits in the Legislative Council where the shop trading hours deregulation bill was introduced earlier this month, expressed support for Millicent residents, highlighting the 1200 signature strong petition as demonstrative of the town’s opposition.
The freshman MP targeted what she labelled as a “closed-door approach” by the government on deregulation, saying the state Liberals had not consulted with small businesses and employees in Millicent.
“A petition opposing the deregulation of trading hours, which recently did the rounds in Millicent, collected over 1000 signatures,” she said.
“This was not in a month – this was in a week and a half.
“Whether it is local independent supermarkets, florists or clothing shops, local business owners and their customers alike are sending a resounding message that locals must back locals and that is what they are doing.”
Ms Bourke said Member for MacKillop Nick McBride was “well aware of the situation he finds himself in”, citing an article in which the Millicent MP acknowledged deregulation would be “very hard” on Millicent’s two independent supermarkets, but said the fight was “not worth chopping my neck off”.
“The Member for MacKillop seems like a friendly, understanding kind of guy, but when your party has shackled you to a position that 80pc of a community is against – and perhaps even the member himself – a community that can take on the big end of town and win, I guess all I can say to the member is good luck,” she said.
“Labor has taken the time to ask the small businesses and employees in Millicent why they back the current regulated trading hours, the most regulated trading hours of any city or township in this state.
“What is good for the community is good for business and when you close your door and do not listen to a strong community, all I can say is watch out.”
In response, Mr McBride repeated his pledge to “support the residents of Millicent in the party room” so the town is protected from deregulation.
“I have heard emphatically from the residents of Millicent and understand and support their desire to ensure the continuation of regulated trading hours in their town,” he said.
“The community is seeking to ensure businesses in Millicent are able to continue to operate sustainably into the future and to continue to support local employment.”
