Shop Trading Hours

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (14:43): How many jobs in South Australian small businesses will be lost as a result of trading hours in South Australia?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (14:43): The Liberal government's position is that we believe that shop trading hours reform will actually lead to economic growth and also jobs growth in South Australia rather than the contrary, and that is based on the national modelling that has been done by people like the Productivity Commission. We believe, in terms of growing the economy, that we can not only grow the economy but we can grow jobs in South Australia. As I said, one of the fiercest opponents of shop trading hours reform in South Australia has just announced a massive expansion and indicated in the media that they were looking at three new stores in South Australia.

It may well be that that particular business is looking at taking over some other businesses. I am not sure, but they did talk about three new stores. Good luck to them. They are a very successful business, not only in South Australia but they have expanded over the years in one of the Eastern States. I have great admiration for people who put their dollars on the line, take a punt and end up being extraordinarily successful, as this particular business has been in South Australia.

There will be no criticism from the Marshall Liberal government about businesspeople who take a punt, who invest and who employ people in South Australia. What we are seeking to do for those businesses is to allow them to trade in hours that at the moment they currently want to trade and perhaps some of them are trading unlawfully.