MILLICENT’S three regulated retailers will be able to trade on Easter Saturday and Geltwood Festival Market Day after the State Government granted special exemption under existing shop trading laws.
Treasurer Rob Lucas granted the exemption this week to the Millicent Proclaimed Shopping District under the Shop Trading Hours Act 1977 following a formal application last month by the Millicent Business Community Association.
Such exemptions to Easter Saturday date back decades while Sunday trading on Geltwood Festival Market Day has been permitted since its inception almost 20 years ago.
The exemption will allow Foster’s Foodland, Woolworths and Target Country to open on both Easter Saturday, April 20, from 7am to 5pm and Geltwood Festival Market Day on April 7 from 9am to 5pm.
“In granting this exemption, the Marshall Government took into account the results of community consultation and the significance of both the Easter holiday period and the Geltwood Festival to the region, particularly from a tourism perspective,” Mr Lucas said.
“We know Millicent and, indeed, the entire South East enjoys an influx of visitors and tourists at this time of year and this will enable all stores and supermarkets to be able to capitalise on this increase in trade, if they choose.
“Given the stores will be required to close on the three other days of the Easter holiday long weekend, the State Government accepts there will be considerable consumer demand to warrant the granting of an exemption.
“This is yet another example of why our state’s crazy and outdated shop trading laws need to be reformed.
“If traders want to trade, shoppers want to shop and workers are prepared to work, why should businesses have to go through this complicated process to convince a Minister to allow it every year.
“Given the past criticism of union bosses and the Labor Party, it will be interesting to see whether they complain about impacts on small business and workers and their families.”
Labor shadow minister Clare Scriven MLC said the exemption decision showed there was flexibility in the current laws for special events to be accommodated.
“When there is a special reason for all businesses to be able to trade outside usual hours, then an exemption can let that happen,” Ms Scriven said.
“That is very different to what the Marshall Liberal Government wants, which is total deregulation, which will force at least one of Millicent’s supermarkets to close.
“Millicent people have voted overwhelmingly against total deregulation, but Rob Lucas and the Marshall Liberal Government want to force the issue without any care for the local people who would lose their livelihoods.
“This type of exemption has worked well for Millicent for many years and was never ‘complicated’ until this year, under Mr Lucas.”
Millicent Business Community Association chairperson Lee Morgan said his organisation was pleased with the minister’s approval.
“It should be noted that any shop (apart from Foodland, Target Country and Woolworths) can open at any reasonable time during the year,” Mr Morgan said.
“It is up to the traders to make best use of their businesses during the weekends and out of hours when these larger supermarkets and enterprises are closed.”
Millicent is one of only three proclaimed shopping districts remaining in South Australia under the Shop Trading Hours Act 1977, which prevents supermarkets larger than 400sqm and shops larger than 200sqm from opening on specific days, including public holidays and Sundays.
