READ MORE: Millicent crowd sends message
OUR VIEW: Millicent shop trading hours
READ MORE: Honeymoon’s over McBride
MEMBER for MacKillop Nick McBride’s unwillingness to listen to his constituency on shop trading hours and cross the floor is a “sad indictment” on the Liberal State Government, SA-Best MLC Frank Pangallo said.
Attendees of Friday night’s shop trading hours forum in Millicent called on Mr McBride to side with the State Opposition when the new laws are introduced in parliament, but the Liberal MP said he would not vote against party lines.
While conceding Mr McBride’s vote would not have any practical impact in blocking the legislation in the Lower House, Mr Pangallo said the move would demonstrate “some gumption” on the issue.
“He needs to listen to his community and the community wants it to remain as it is,” he said.
“He says he will argue that in the party room and that’s all well and good, but I think he needs to show it on the floor of the parliament, that this is what my community does not want.
“Of course it will not matter, but I’m just saying he should demonstrate some gumption and say ‘I am against it’.”
Mr Pangallo said he was “amazed” at the community turn-out at last week’s event hosted by SA-Best and the support against the State Government’s proposed deregulation mandate.
“I was even more amazed when we put it to a vote as to whether they want deregulation,” he said.
“Not one person put their hand up to say they do.
“That tells me what the community really wants in Millicent and we need to listen to what the people want to say.
“The people who attended the forum were unanimous in their decision – they do not want deregulated shopping hours in the town.
“That was one of the most important things that came out, that no one is listening.”
In the aftermath of the community forum, South Australia’s small business sector and independent retailers launched a campaign against changes to the state’s retail hours.
The campaign, called “Stop Deregulation – Save SA Shops, Jobs and Farms” features the SA Produce Market, florist industry and an orchard grower calling on Premier Steven Marshall to dump his plan to deregulate shop trading hours.
Mr Pangallo and SA-Best colleague Connie Bonaros backed the campaign, saying the proposed new shop trading law would force out small, independent retailers.
“The campaign by the small business sector and independent retailers has our full support,” he said.
“We congratulate them for being so robust in spreading the message on the widespread damage any changes to the current trading hours will have across South Australia.”
