Shop Trading Hours

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:19): My question is to the Premier. Has the Premier met with former Liberal candidate and Wattle Range mayor, Peter Gandolfi, in relation to the regulation of shop trading hours and what the impact of deregulation would be on Millicent?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:20): I thank the leader for his question. I have met with Peter Gandolfi, the Mayor of Wattle Range Council, on many occasions. I can't recall whether he has raised this issue with me, but my answer is the same: we have formed an opinion on this side of the house that it is in the best interests of this state and future generations and employment opportunities to deregulate shop trading hours.

I note that Mr Gandolfi, who you mentioned in your question, actually has a business in Mount Gambier. In Mount Gambier, of course, they have deregulated shop trading hours. Guess what? He is still able to survive as a small business owner in a deregulated environment. He is still able to operate.

I would just say that I have been to Millicent recently, and what a fantastic part of our state it is. I must say that, on the morning that I was there, I was very fortunate. I arrived there early. I was travelling back to Adelaide from Mount Gambier and I maybe got some of my timing wrong, so I had a little bit of extra time up my sleeve. What I decided to do was to stop off in the fantastic town of Millicent, and what I was really pleased about—and it was early on a Sunday morning; it was before 11 o'clock on a Sunday morning—and the good news was that shops were open.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Shops were open. I couldn't believe it.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on my left, order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: I couldn't believe my luck when I not only could go—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —to a coffee shop but I could also go to the local garden centre—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —and it was absolutely fantastic. I'll tell you what happened: the calendar moved on from 1958—not all of those opposite have noticed it—and shoppers want shops to be open when they have the urge to go and spend money. This is in the best interests of not only the consumers who have voted overwhelmingly time and time again, saying they want further deregulation of shop trading hours, but also it is in the best interests of businesses in South Australia.

I will tell you what happens: if you are not open, people will still continue to consume, and where they will consume from is the internet. This is a disaster, an absolute disaster for those businesses in South Australia who have invested in bricks and mortar and who have got their shops. By restricting the time that they can potentially open, it will damage their businesses and will drive consumers to the internet.

I make this point to you, sir, and I am sure you appreciate this: the deregulation agenda, which those of us on this side of the chamber will be advocating for, is not compulsory deregulation.

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The leader is warned.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: It provides choice. We are not saying that you must open all of these hours; we are just trying to leave that decision to the individual operator.

Dr Close interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The deputy leader is on one warning.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: I say to the store owners in Millicent: if you don't want to open, don't open. I say to Franz Knoll, esteemed business leader in South Australia: if you don't want to open, there is nothing in our legislation which will ever force you to open. By the way, Country SA, which has been deregulated for a very long period of time, still survives with deregulated shop trading hours.