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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-02-28 Daily Xml
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TRADING HOURS

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (15:03): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Industrial Relations questions about the proposed public holidays over the Christmas New Year period.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS: The October 2011 Shop Trading Hours Agreement between Business SA and the SDA which the government has rubber-stamped will, in effect, create two new periods where holiday penalty rates will need to be paid by employers. This will also affect government workers and, in particular, those who are on essential duties during the Christmas and New Year period—police and hospital workers, particularly nurses. My questions to the minister are:

1. How much consultation and discussion was had about these proposals with industry groups who have a vested interest?

2. What are the budgetary effects of this change: where will this extra money come from, given the level of debt the government has currently?

3. Is this at all related to the sale of the State Administration Centre?

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (15:04): I thank the honourable member for his questions. On 7 November 2011 the Premier (Hon. J Weatherill) announced the South Australian government's intention to amend the Holidays Act 1910 and the Shop Trading Hours Act 1977 to allow stores of any size located in the central shopping district to open from 11am to 5pm on New Year's Day, Adelaide Cup Day, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday, Proclamation Day, the Queen's Birthday, Labor Day and after midday on Anzac Day, as well as to create part-day public holidays on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve from 5pm until 12 midnight across the whole state.

The changes come as result of tripartite discussions and agreement between the government, Business SA and the Shop Distributive & Allied Employees' Association. The proposed arrangements will ensure that employees in the national system of industrial relations who are required to work from 5pm on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve will have the right to reasonably refuse to work—

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: Do you want to listen to the answer or not?

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: That would be right. I understand that; don't get the information or the facts.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: Yes; don't get the information or the facts.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

Members interjecting:

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: Fine, but don't interrupt when I am giving the answer—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: That's the polite thing to do. If you don't want—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Stephens has a supplementary.

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