SDA Assistant Secretary Josh Peak says South Australians do not support the Liberal’s plan to deregulate trading hours with local businesses also opposing their policy.
In an exclusive poll, over 45% of South Australians oppose big supermarkets and department stores opening on public holidays compared to 41% in favour of the Liberal’s proposal.
While Steven Marshall expected the reform to be highly popular, the ReachTell Poll conducted for the Shop Workers Union reflects his lack of community consultation with retail workers and local small businesses who reject the plan.
“Retail workers, small businesses, independent retailers and now the majority of South Australians do not support more trading on public holidays.
“On public holidays thousands of retail workers get a rare chance to take a day off just like everyone else in the community and we do not want that right taken away from them.
“Our retail industry is growing with millions of dollars in investments this year alone which shows we have the balance right here in SA,” said Josh.
The Liberal’s policy has failed to convince South Australians for the need for more public holiday trading because it provides no solid evidence of economic benefits or job creation in the state.
Further to this, claims by Steven Marshall that South Australia has the highest rate of online shopping are false, with the latest NAB Online Sales Report showing South Australians spend less online than the national average.
“Steven Marshall has been caught out – he doesn’t have economic modeling to back up his plan and he didn’t consult the retail workers or small business owners who will be worse off under their plan.
“You simply cannot trust the Liberal’s, first they want to cut penalty rates and now they want to deny retail workers the right to a day off on a public holiday,” said Josh.
Read the article from today’s Advertiser online here: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/polling-by-sas-biggest-union-has-found-south-australians-are-split-over-plans-for-extended-shop-trading/news-story/4a0c3ce949c4e30e7f2b87c9428d71cf