SUNDAY and public holiday trading could expand to Millicent with the State Liberals pledging to deregulate the state despite overwhelming community opposition against shop trading hour expansion.
The Opposition has pledged to introduce amendments to the law, which would allow Millicent’s three regulated retailers to open from midnight to 9pm every day of the year, with the exception of Christmas Day, Good Friday and Anzac Day morning.
Earlier this year, Millicent residents voted overwhelmingly in favour of retaining the current shop trading hours with more than 72pc of residents in support of the town’s rare regulated shopping regime.
Mr Marshall told The South Eastern Times the proposed deregulation was rooted in the party’s commitment to freedom of choice.
“Under the Liberal Party’s policy, shops are allowed to trade when the owners want to open,” he said.
“The Liberal Party’s deregulation agenda is not compulsory, it just gives traders a choice to open when they want.
“The reality is we are a party of choice and we want to make sure shoppers have that choice.”
Mr Marshall said the state’s regulated shopping regime was dictated by South Australia’s peak retail union, the Shop,
Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association, (SDA) and the Weatherill Government.
Current laws restrict trading in the Greater Adelaide Shopping District, comprising the central business district, Glenelg and the greater metropolitan area, as well as proclaimed shopping districts.
Millicent is one of three remaining proclaimed shopping districts in South Austalia, along with Binnum (Binnum, Frances and Kybybolite) and Grace (Mallala).
Mr Marshall said the liberalisation of shop trading hours would stimulate the economy and boost jobs.
“We have the unions and Jay Weatherill sitting back dictating when and where shops can open,” he said.
“We have traders who want to open but they cannot because of outdated legislation,” Mr Marshall said.
“Increased trading hours mean more hours and more jobs for our young people, who really want to work.
SDA assistant secretary Josh Peak said the community trading vote should be respected.
“We are very shocked to hear that Steven Marshall, from his office in Adelaide, is thinking about a decision the people of
Millicent have democratically voted against earlier this year,” he said.
“The Millicent community wants balance and it thinks it is important for the small retailers to get a fair go and for the staff working in the larger supermarkets in town to have time off.
“We strongly support the idea of the people in Millicent to decide when they want their shops to open.
“We think the people of Millicent should think long and hard about this announcement.”
State Government legislation prohibits large retailers Target Country, Foster’s Foodland and Woolworths from opening on Sundays and public holidays.
A Woolworths spokesperson said the supermarket was supportive of any move to deregulate shop trading hours.
“Woolworths welcomes the general liberalisation of trading hours,” the spokeperson said.
“We believe it would provide our customers with greater choice and convenience.”
However, Foster’s Foodland proprietor Brian Foster said under the retailers franchise agreement, the store is required to open when hours are available.
“They say it’s a free choice, but it’s not,” he said.
“As part of the Foodland franchise, if the hours are available they expect us to open.
“Being a small business, you virtually have to work when ever the store is open.
“It’s nice to have a day off.”
Wattle Range Mayor Peter Gandolfi said council “supports the results of the poll conducted earlier this year”.
The State Government has long supported regulated shopping hours, while SA BEST leader Nick Xenophon
has pledged to block the proposed changes if elected to parliament.
