Shop Trading Hours

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (14:44): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Treasurer.

Leave granted.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: I note recent media reports reveal the Treasurer will use his ministerial powers to create an exemption to retail trading laws this year so Adelaide's major shopping centres, both in the CBD and metropolitan area, can choose to open on Boxing Day. The move will apparently bring South Australia in line with other states and enable suburban stores to open their doors from 9am to 5pm on Boxing Day for the first time, if they choose. Retailers in the Adelaide CBD who previously had a monopoly on Boxing Day trading, will be given an extra two hours to trade, opening from 9am instead of 11am, as some form of compensation.

As most of us in this chamber know, public transport timetables differ greatly on public holidays, with some routes running only hourly services on the day instead of every few minutes. My question to the Treasurer is: has the Treasurer requested the Minister for Transport ensures more regular public transport services, buses, trains and trams will be scheduled to operate on Boxing Day for any commuters wishing to attend the Boxing Day sales in the city and the suburbs?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (14:45): No, I have not made any specific requests but I am happy to have a discussion with the Minister for Transport. My understanding is, as is the normal practice, the Minister for Transport will respond to what is an annual event in relation to extended trading hours in the metropolitan area generally in the period leading up to Christmas.

I think the important point to take from the decision that I as minister have taken in relation to Boxing Day is that it will reduce some of the public transport pressure on public transport services in terms of people having to get themselves from Port Adelaide, Munno Para, Noarlunga, Tea Tree Gully or Marion into the CBD, therefore creating an unusual peak in demand for public transport services. The mere fact of actually providing convenience to shoppers and their families closer to their homes and where they live, means that there will be less pressure on the public transport system and that, of course, makes great sense in terms of trying to spread the load.

It is also, of course, much more sensible for families because it will mean they will not have to go to the inconvenience and the extra cost of having to travel either by public transport to the metropolitan area—sometimes considerable distances—and they will be able to shop at their convenience, generally with free parking, in their local suburban shopping centre, rather than if they are travelling by car and not public transport to the city potentially incurring quite expensive car parking fees.

So, all in all, in terms of public transport and transport services generally, it makes much more sense to actually spread the load rather than concentrating the monopoly position in the CBD and, as I said, spreading the benefit of the extra trading from tourists and others amongst all shopping centres rather than just the CBD.