Shop Trading Hours

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (14:53): A further supplementary: will the Treasurer be working in his office on Boxing Day? If not, why does he deserve a public holiday when small traders and retail workers do not? Is he saying they are second-class citizens, since he used the 'class' term?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (14:53): No, I won't be working in my office on Boxing Day. However, my very able Premier will be representing me in relation to Boxing Day. This is a silly argument that the Labor Party and some others utilise. One can use this argument about working on Saturdays and Sundays. I don't sit in my office on Saturdays and Sundays either but, by and large, for most of the year I am available for telephone calls and media interviews and a range of other things, whether that be at home or at community-based functions. This might surprise the honourable member, who hasn't been a minister, but you don't actually sit in your ministerial office all the time.