In a South Australian first, families wanting to stock up on groceries and other supplies towards the end of the October long weekend will have the opportunity to shop closer to home, with all suburban shops permitted to open on the Labour Day public holiday Monday – in addition to the CBD and regional areas.
Treasurer Rob Lucas has granted an exemption under the Shop Trading Hours Act 1977 which gives all metropolitan retailers, regardless of their size or location, the freedom to trade from 11am to 5pm on Labour Day (Monday, October 4) – if they choose.
"We know there'll be many families right across Adelaide who will welcome the greater freedom to shop towards the end of the long-weekend, including those who might need to stock up on supplies – such as groceries and food – ahead of the second week of school holidays and a new working week," Mr Lucas.
"Under our existing, archaic shop trading laws – larger supermarkets (those over 400sqm) and other retailers (over 200sqm) outside of the CBD and regional areas are prevented from opening their doors, which simply doesn't make any sense.
"The Marshall Government's view is, and has always been, why shouldn't families in Elizabeth, Noarlunga, Port Adelaide, Tea Tree Gully and Marion have the same opportunity and freedom to shop as families near the CBD?
"From supermarkets and homeware stores to fashion retailers and hardware suppliers, if traders want to trade, shoppers want to shop and there are workers willing and able to work, why should our silly shop trading laws stop them?"
The most recent Retail Trade figures from the ABS showed that online sales in July 2021 were at their highest monthly level in the history of that particular data series.
"This highlights the increasing shift to online shopping by Australian consumers, and why we have to do everything we can in South Australia to take the handbrake off for local bricks and mortar businesses," Mr Lucas said.
"The contrast is clear – Premier Steven Marshall wants to give South Australians freedom of choice to make their lives easier and create jobs and opportunity for local businesses to thrive… ex-union boss Peter Malinauskas and his Shoppies union mates want SA closed for business.
"This is particularly concerning at a time when we are doing everything in our power to turbo-charge the state's economic recovery from COVID – with more South Australians employed now than at any other time in the state's history.
"But we know there's much more work to be done, which is why we will be campaigning on this popular issue right up until the next state election in March. We believe South Australians in Adelaide suburbs want to continue to be able to shop on public holidays such as Boxing Day, Adelaide Cup Day, Easter Monday, and Labour Day."
No employee can be forced to work under the Shop Trading exemption.
