Shop Trading Hours

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (14:26): Final supplementary.

The PRESIDENT: The deputy leader will resume her seat. There is not much point her asking a supplementary if she is being drowned out by other members of her front bench.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Does the Treasurer care at all about small traders going out of business, and if not, why not?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (14:26): I care deeply about not only the people of Millicent but small traders. As I have said on a number of occasions, the independent retailers in South Australia will always have a valued share in the supermarket market in South Australia because South Australians are loyal to their local independent retailers and their connection with community. If they are good retailers, connected to their community, and if they are providing a niche service to their market—

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: —then they will always thrive.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: I don't subscribe to the view, as the Hon. Ms Scriven does, that the mere change of shop trading laws will drive independent retailers across South Australia out of business as indeed—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order on both sides!

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: —the independent retailers, Mr Shearing and the other spokesperson claimed in South Australia.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The conversations across the chamber are out of order, leader!

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: The independent retailers will always remain a valued and important part of the South Australian retail market.