❓ Dr. Nahan questions who is responsible for retail reform decisions in WA, suggesting the Premier, Minister, or unions. The Premier responds by highlighting the government's role and criticising the National Party's past stance on Sunday trading.
AnsweredQoN 981Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CHRISTMAS RETAIL TRADING
HOURS
981. Dr M.D. NAHAN to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Who
is making the decisions on retail reform in Western Australia? Is it the
Premier, the Minister for Commerce and Industrial Relations or the unions?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister for
Sport and Recreation and member for Girrawheen, I call you both to order for
the first time.
HOURS
981. Dr M.D. NAHAN to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Who
is making the decisions on retail reform in Western Australia? Is it the
Premier, the Minister for Commerce and Industrial Relations or the unions?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister for
Sport and Recreation and member for Girrawheen, I call you both to order for
the first time.
AnswerView source ↗
The government makes these
decisions. It is true —
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I hear the
National Party! Members might recall that in 2012 I had to ensure there would
be Sunday trading because the National Party would not vote for it. Do members
remember that? I had to ensure there would be Sunday trading in Western Australia.
I had to do it—from opposition!—and make it happen because the
National Party walked out.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Warren–Blackwood, I am on my feet. I call you to order for the first
time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : As I recall, National Party members
even walked out of the cabinet room when the matter was being discussed. It was
an odd cabinet that was running. Some people excluded themselves when things
like retail trading hours were being debated.
I think that what we have done is entirely reasonable. We
should bear in mind that in early December, from seven until eight in the
morning on weekdays there was very little take-up of the trading. At that time
of the year small business people or proprietors of small businesses often have
to open until nine at night. Members should think about that. From the moment
they get up at five in the morning to the moment they get home—it might
be 10 o'clock at night. That is a hard lot for a lot of people in small
business.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : All we are saying to small business
people is that Labor is on their side. The Liberal Party wants them to open 24
hours a day
decisions. It is true —
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I hear the
National Party! Members might recall that in 2012 I had to ensure there would
be Sunday trading because the National Party would not vote for it. Do members
remember that? I had to ensure there would be Sunday trading in Western Australia.
I had to do it—from opposition!—and make it happen because the
National Party walked out.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Warren–Blackwood, I am on my feet. I call you to order for the first
time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : As I recall, National Party members
even walked out of the cabinet room when the matter was being discussed. It was
an odd cabinet that was running. Some people excluded themselves when things
like retail trading hours were being debated.
I think that what we have done is entirely reasonable. We
should bear in mind that in early December, from seven until eight in the
morning on weekdays there was very little take-up of the trading. At that time
of the year small business people or proprietors of small businesses often have
to open until nine at night. Members should think about that. From the moment
they get up at five in the morning to the moment they get home—it might
be 10 o'clock at night. That is a hard lot for a lot of people in small
business.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : All we are saying to small business
people is that Labor is on their side. The Liberal Party wants them to open 24
hours a day
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.