❓ Opposition questions the government's decision to reduce Christmas retail trading hours, arguing it limits job opportunities and consumer choice. The government defends its decision, citing a balance between consumer needs and retail worker well-being, and a lack of demand for extended hours.
AnsweredQoN 1223Legislative Council
Asked
27 November 2018
Member
Portfolio
Minister Assisting the Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade
QuestionView source ↗
CHRISTMAS RETAIL TRADING
HOURS
1223. Hon AARON STONEHOUSE to the Minister Assisting the
Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade:
I refer to the government's
much lauded Local Projects, Local Jobs program and also to comments attributed
to Richard Goyder, former chief executive of Wesfarmers, in The West Australian today to the extent that a ''large proportion of ... part-time and
casual workers � would like more hours'', yet the government's
extended trading hours will actually reduce the opportunities for people to
work this Christmas.
(1) Why was it
felt appropriate to limit local jobs by cutting trading hours over the 2018
Christmas period from the 49 additional hours available in 2017 to just 34 this
year?
(2) Why is the
McGowan government so committed to restricting personal choice and curtailing
business profitability in this regressive manner?
(3) Does the
minister agree with Mr Goyder's assessment that this is nothing short
of ''a reversion to what can only be described as the 1960s''?
HOURS
1223. Hon AARON STONEHOUSE to the Minister Assisting the
Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade:
I refer to the government's
much lauded Local Projects, Local Jobs program and also to comments attributed
to Richard Goyder, former chief executive of Wesfarmers, in The West Australian today to the extent that a ''large proportion of ... part-time and
casual workers � would like more hours'', yet the government's
extended trading hours will actually reduce the opportunities for people to
work this Christmas.
(1) Why was it
felt appropriate to limit local jobs by cutting trading hours over the 2018
Christmas period from the 49 additional hours available in 2017 to just 34 this
year?
(2) Why is the
McGowan government so committed to restricting personal choice and curtailing
business profitability in this regressive manner?
(3) Does the
minister agree with Mr Goyder's assessment that this is nothing short
of ''a reversion to what can only be described as the 1960s''?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
I know the member put his question to the Minister Assisting the Minister for
State Development, Jobs and Trade, but the following information has been
provided to me by the Minister for Commerce and Industrial Relations.
(1) The McGowan
government has approved extended retail trading hours, giving Perth shoppers
extra hours to complete their Christmas shopping this season. The approved
extended hours strike a balance between the needs of consumers and those of the
retail workers who work over the Christmas period.
(2) The McGowan
government believes there are sufficient trading hours to support consumer
demand for extended shopping. There is a lack of Christmas shopping demand to
justify opening stores from 7.00 am for the entirety of the Christmas period. Indeed,
when these hours have been available previously, many retail stores have not
taken advantage of the early opening time or, when they have, there has been no
demonstrated demand from Christmas shoppers.
(3) No.
I know the member put his question to the Minister Assisting the Minister for
State Development, Jobs and Trade, but the following information has been
provided to me by the Minister for Commerce and Industrial Relations.
(1) The McGowan
government has approved extended retail trading hours, giving Perth shoppers
extra hours to complete their Christmas shopping this season. The approved
extended hours strike a balance between the needs of consumers and those of the
retail workers who work over the Christmas period.
(2) The McGowan
government believes there are sufficient trading hours to support consumer
demand for extended shopping. There is a lack of Christmas shopping demand to
justify opening stores from 7.00 am for the entirety of the Christmas period. Indeed,
when these hours have been available previously, many retail stores have not
taken advantage of the early opening time or, when they have, there has been no
demonstrated demand from Christmas shoppers.
(3) No.
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