South Australia Treasurer Rob Lucas

Easter Monday Retail Trade Approved For The Suburbs

Victor P Taffa

In a South Australian first, the Marshall Government has announced it will give all retailers in suburban Adelaide the opportunity to trade on Easter Monday.

Treasurer Rob Lucas made the decision to grant the special exemption under the Shop Trading Hours Act 1977 in response to considerable demand and support from South Australian consumers and retailers for greater freedom of choice in trading hours.

Move, which brings South Australia in line with every other state and territory, will enable suburban stores to open their doors from 11 am-5 pm on Monday, April 22 if they choose.

It follows the overwhelming success of a similar exemption granted for Boxing Day last year, which saw more than 130,000 people flock to suburban retailers right across Adelaide for post-Christmas sales, in addition to the CBD.

 

“This will be a shot in the arm for South Australian retailers and consumers who, despite hysterical protests from the Labor Party and their mates in the shoppies’ union, have been longing for greater freedom of choice and extended trading beyond the CBD and most of regional South Australia.” Treasurer Lucas said.

“In arriving at this decision, I considered the options in the same way I did for New Year’s Day, Australia Day and the Adelaide Cup Day public holiday.”

“Whilst I made no change on those occasions, I accepted that given Easter falls late in April this year and as it stands across a 7-day period there will be 4 restricted trading days (Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday and Anzac Day) there was considerable demand to warrant the granting of an exemption.”

“Good Friday and Anzac Day morning are quarantined, obviously, so Easter Monday was the logical option.” Treasurer Lucas said.

“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?”

“Power to issue this exemption is within the current law and Labor governments and Labor Ministers have used it in the past in extending shopping hours in the lead up to Christmas, including non-stop 24-hour trading.” Treasurer Lucas said.

Treasurer Lucas also made it clear “no employee will be forced to work on Easter Monday”.

“To reinforce this, the exemption which is the same that was used for Boxing Day and in previous years contains a condition that all employees working during this period will do so on a strictly voluntary basis.” Treasurer Lucas said.

“If a retail worker wants to take time off on the Easter Monday public holiday then there’s absolutely nothing stopping them.”

“If what we saw with Boxing Day is any indication, there will be many people who will see this as a fantastic opportunity to earn some extra wages.”

“Furthermore, following Boxing Day, I am advised that SafeWork SA received no complaints from employees alleging that they were forced to work.” Treasurer Lucas said.

Treasurer Lucas said this was yet another example of the “outdated, antiquated and bizarre” shop trading laws which needed to be reformed.

“We know the majority of South Australians support deregulation of shop trading hours, but the union bosses and the Labor Party have denied them that freedom of choice.” Treasurer Lucas said.

“Marshall Government’s view is, if traders want to trade, consumers want to shop and employees are willing and able to work, why should our silly laws stop them?”

Easter Monday trading exemption will be gazetted next week.

Easter Holiday Trading Hours

Easter holiday trading hours for non-exempt shops (ie supermarkets over 400 sqm and shops over 200 sqm):

Good Friday (April 19): CLOSED

(CBD, Metropolitan Shopping District and Glenelg Tourist Precinct)

Easter Saturday (April 20): Regular trade until 5 pm

(CBD, Metropolitan Shopping District and Glenelg Tourist Precinct)

Easter Sunday (April 21): 11 am-5 pm in the CBD; CLOSED

(Metropolitan Shopping District and Glenelg Tourist Precinct)

Easter Monday (April 22): 11 am-5 pm

(CBD, Metropolitan Shopping District and Glenelg Tourist Precinct)

*Non-exempt shops in Proclaimed Shopping Districts will be closed across the 4-day Easter period with the exception of those in Millicent, who have been granted an exemption to trade on Easter Saturday this year from 7 am-5 pm.