Shop Trading Hours

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:17): My supplementary to the Premier is: how will the government inform South Australians about the cons of their proposed retail trading referendum and what it will mean for businesses and workers?

The SPEAKER: The member for Florey might repeat the question.

Ms BEDFORD: How will the government inform South Australians about the cons—as in pros and cons—of their proposed retail trading referendum and what it will mean for businesses and workers? The way you have expressed it, there are only pros to it.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (15:17): I would remind the house that this is a matter which is before the parliament at the moment.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: I think it is in the other place.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Sorry, I may be incorrect. I was under the impression that it has been introduced in the other place. I am happy to check that.

The SPEAKER: In that case, it's of no consequence for this house.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: It is a matter which is before the other place at the moment. It is under active consideration. I note that the Labor Party, before the debate has even taken place, have already issued their position on this. That is very disappointing. We think that it deserves a respectful debate in the other place. We think that there are many advantages of this, which I have outlined in my previous answer.

If it is successful that there is a successful determination that we will put this to a referendum at the next election, then I'm quite sure there will be many people on both sides of the argument who will be making their points very clearly to the people of South Australia. But at this stage it looks like this reform, this important reform, this job-creating reform that we so desperately need in South Australia, is going to be scuttled by the Leader of the Opposition and the Australian Labor Party.