❓ Hon. Kate Doust questions the Minister for Commerce regarding public transport modelling related to proposed extended retail trading hours. The Minister deflects, suggesting the question be directed to the Minister for Transport and provides general information on current public transport schedules.
AnsweredQoN 1393Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
RETAIL
TRADING HOURS — RETAIL WORKERS — PUBLIC TRANSPORT
1393. Hon KATE DOUST to the
Minister for Commerce:
I refer to the
recent announcement made by the minister regarding proposed changes to trading
hours for general shops to be open at 7.00 am from Monday through to Saturday
as well as late finishing on Saturdays at 6.00 pm.
(1) Has the government done any modelling
for potential changes to public transport in order to accommodate retail
workers who require public transport in getting to work in the morning prior to
7.00 am on Mondays through to Saturdays?
(2) If yes to (1), can the minister please table the modelling?
(3) Has the government done any modelling
for potential changes to public transport in order to accommodate retail
workers who require public transport in leaving work in the evenings on a
Saturday past 6.00 pm?
(4) If yes to (3), can the minister please table the modelling?
(5) If no to (2) or (4), why not?
TRADING HOURS — RETAIL WORKERS — PUBLIC TRANSPORT
1393. Hon KATE DOUST to the
Minister for Commerce:
I refer to the
recent announcement made by the minister regarding proposed changes to trading
hours for general shops to be open at 7.00 am from Monday through to Saturday
as well as late finishing on Saturdays at 6.00 pm.
(1) Has the government done any modelling
for potential changes to public transport in order to accommodate retail
workers who require public transport in getting to work in the morning prior to
7.00 am on Mondays through to Saturdays?
(2) If yes to (1), can the minister please table the modelling?
(3) Has the government done any modelling
for potential changes to public transport in order to accommodate retail
workers who require public transport in leaving work in the evenings on a
Saturday past 6.00 pm?
(4) If yes to (3), can the minister please table the modelling?
(5) If no to (2) or (4), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1)–(5) If the honourable member
wants answers to specific questions in relation to public transport modelling, she
should address her questions to the Minister for Transport.
In relation to public transport and the proposed changes to trading
hours for general shops, however, I can say that current train timetables show
that all major train lines commence services by 5.30 am on weekdays and 6.00 am
on Saturday mornings and until late on weekdays and Saturday evenings. It is
not expected that all general retail shops will take advantage of earlier
opening hours. Those most likely to do so will be those hardware stores that
are currently classed as general retail shops, noting that domestic development
shops and small retail shops may already open before 7.00 am and after 6.00 pm
on all days of the year. Those shops that choose to open from 7.00 am or close
after 5.00 pm on Saturdays are unlikely to operate at full staffing capacity
during extended opening times, which should allow some flexibility for staff to
negotiate start and finish times.
The Department of Commerce is not aware of difficulties in relation to
public transport currently experienced by people starting work early in other
industries, for example, health workers, tradespeople and hospitality workers.
The Department of Commerce is not aware of difficulties in relation to public
transport experienced during the 2014 Christmas trading period when shops were
permitted to open from 7.00 am.
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1)–(5) If the honourable member
wants answers to specific questions in relation to public transport modelling, she
should address her questions to the Minister for Transport.
In relation to public transport and the proposed changes to trading
hours for general shops, however, I can say that current train timetables show
that all major train lines commence services by 5.30 am on weekdays and 6.00 am
on Saturday mornings and until late on weekdays and Saturday evenings. It is
not expected that all general retail shops will take advantage of earlier
opening hours. Those most likely to do so will be those hardware stores that
are currently classed as general retail shops, noting that domestic development
shops and small retail shops may already open before 7.00 am and after 6.00 pm
on all days of the year. Those shops that choose to open from 7.00 am or close
after 5.00 pm on Saturdays are unlikely to operate at full staffing capacity
during extended opening times, which should allow some flexibility for staff to
negotiate start and finish times.
The Department of Commerce is not aware of difficulties in relation to
public transport currently experienced by people starting work early in other
industries, for example, health workers, tradespeople and hospitality workers.
The Department of Commerce is not aware of difficulties in relation to public
transport experienced during the 2014 Christmas trading period when shops were
permitted to open from 7.00 am.
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