Shop Trading Hours

The Hon. M. EL DANNAWI (15:15): My question is to the Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector. Will the minister inform the council about extended shop trading hours during the festival season?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector, Special Minister of State) (15:15): I certainly will, and I thank the honourable member for her question. It is an important topic, shop trading hours, for South Australia. As members of this council will very fondly recall, we saw very significant changes and amendments to South Australia's shop trading regime in 2022. This followed what could only be described as a full term—four long years—of policy paralysis in this area under the former Liberal government.

But in 2022, the first year after an election, the new government was able to get it done after that policy paralysis that characterised the Lucas Liberal government of those four years. The changes we made in our first year of a new government were important reforms. They extended Sunday trading to start at 9am, allowed for midnight trading on Black Friday and in the lead-up to Christmas, and it regularised the sporadic trading on the Boxing Day public holiday.

It also, and importantly, reformed the process for making ministerial shop trading exemptions, notoriously misused by the former Lucas Liberal government. We have been clear about the use of ministerial trading exemptions to support businesses during significant times of community events, particularly those that bring large numbers of tourists to our state. We don't want to misuse the exemptions and undermine the important regime that is set up to protect families and protect workers.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Keep going, please. I want to get to the Hon. Ms Lee, if I can.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Under these amendments, industry stakeholders—both business and worker representatives—are put at the forefront of decision-making.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Order, all of you!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: I will keep my remarks very brief because I do understand, and I also want to get to the Hon. Jing Lee to be able to ask a question. After being hounded out of her party, now they are trying to stop her asking questions and I won't stand for that. I won't stand for that, and I will facilitate the Hon. Jing Lee trying to be heard.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Attorney, come on.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: I am very pleased to be able to say that continued collaboration—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Stop it!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: —will see extended shop trading hours in the CBD tourist district for Saturdays between 15 February and 22 March, to coincide with LIV Golf, which is an exceptionally important event that is supported by this government, the Fringe and the Adelaide Festival. Data shows similar exemptions last year, extra hours on the Saturday, increased tourism in the CBD with a 22 per cent increase in visitation in Rundle Mall and, I understand, an 18 per cent increase in retail trade. It is an excellent example of government, industry and unions working together for the betterment of South Australia.