Millicent community rejection of extended trading hours a warning to SA Liberals

The Millicent community vote against trading hour deregulation is a warning to Steven Marshall and the Liberals that South Australians do not believe shops should have to open more.

SDA Secretary Sonia Romeo says Steven Marshall should listen to the South Australian people who oppose forcing retail workers to work longer hours and on more public holidays.

“72% of voters in Millicent have voted against deregulating trading hours because they do not think it will benefit their community.

“Steven Marshall should listen to the people of South Australia instead of pushing his own agenda of boosting profits for the big end of town.

“The South Australian Liberals have turned their backs on retail workers, small business owners and independent retailers who all oppose their plan,” she said.

SDA Assistant Secretary Josh Peak adds the recent WA State election was a landslide loss for the Liberal Government who also proposed the deregulation of trading hours.

“Every time extended trading hours goes to a vote, people reject it- whether it’s in Adelaide, in Western Australia or in Millicent.

“Western Australians voted out a Liberal Government who wanted to deregulated trading hours that would force retail workers to work longer hours, why would the SA Libs make the same mistake?

“Now the vote in Millicent is a clear reflection of how the community feels on this issue and shows just how out of touch Steven Marshall is with working families in SA,” said Josh.

The Liberals trading hour deregulation proposal would allow shops across South Australia to open from midnight to 9pm 7 days a week, including almost all public holidays.

The SDA opposes their proposal because it unfairly disadvantages retail workers who will be further denied valuable time off.

Want to protect the weekend and your penalty rates? Join our campaign to stop longer trading hours now!