Question regarding whether extended trading hours will primarily benefit large retailers. The Premier defends the policy, arguing it benefits both businesses and the public, and challenges the National Party's stance.

AnsweredQoN 190Legislative Assembly
Asked
10 April 2008
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

EXTENDED TRADING HOURS
I have a supplementary question. Does the Premier agree that the major beneficiaries of his push for extended trading hours will be Coles, Woolworths and Harvey Norman? Mr A.J. CARPENTER

AnswerView source ↗

Did we not just hear the Leader of the National Party say that 98 per cent of small businesses already take advantage of extended trading hours? One would assume that they do that because they see an advantage in it. I see an advantage for the general public. Mr B.J. Grylls : Who voted against it in a referendum! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Why does the member for Merredin not oppose extended trading hours in his electorate? Mr B.J. Grylls : I do oppose extended trading in my electorate. No shops open on Sunday or after hours. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They do not have to, but they can if they want to. The National Party’s position is completely at odds with the reality in its members’ electorates. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes; I believe that big and small businesses will benefit, but so will the general public. I ask the question rhetorically, but why is it that I can go to Bunnings on a Sunday but cannot go to an electrical distributor around the corner? Why is that? Why do we not take government out of the equation and let a person operating a business who wants to open on a Sunday do so—why not?
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: Did we not just hear the Leader of the National Party say that 98 per cent of small businesses already take advantage of extended trading hours? One would assume that they do that because they see an advantage in it. I see an advantage for the general public. Mr B.J. Grylls : Who voted against it in a referendum! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Why does the member for Merredin not oppose extended trading hours in his electorate? Mr B.J. Grylls : I do oppose extended trading in my electorate. No shops open on Sunday or after hours. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They do not have to, but they can if they want to. The National Party’s position is completely at odds with the reality in its members’ electorates. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes; I believe that big and small businesses will benefit, but so will the general public. I ask the question rhetorically, but why is it that I can go to Bunnings on a Sunday but cannot go to an electrical distributor around the corner? Why is that? Why do we not take government out of the equation and let a person operating a business who wants to open on a Sunday do so—why not?
Did we not just hear the Leader of the National Party say that 98 per cent of small businesses already take advantage of extended trading hours? One would assume that they do that because they see an advantage in it. I see an advantage for the general public. Mr B.J. Grylls : Who voted against it in a referendum! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Why does the member for Merredin not oppose extended trading hours in his electorate? Mr B.J. Grylls : I do oppose extended trading in my electorate. No shops open on Sunday or after hours. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They do not have to, but they can if they want to. The National Party’s position is completely at odds with the reality in its members’ electorates. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes; I believe that big and small businesses will benefit, but so will the general public. I ask the question rhetorically, but why is it that I can go to Bunnings on a Sunday but cannot go to an electrical distributor around the corner? Why is that? Why do we not take government out of the equation and let a person operating a business who wants to open on a Sunday do so—why not?
Mr B.J. Grylls : Who voted against it in a referendum! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Why does the member for Merredin not oppose extended trading hours in his electorate? Mr B.J. Grylls : I do oppose extended trading in my electorate. No shops open on Sunday or after hours. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They do not have to, but they can if they want to. The National Party’s position is completely at odds with the reality in its members’ electorates. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes; I believe that big and small businesses will benefit, but so will the general public. I ask the question rhetorically, but why is it that I can go to Bunnings on a Sunday but cannot go to an electrical distributor around the corner? Why is that? Why do we not take government out of the equation and let a person operating a business who wants to open on a Sunday do so—why not?
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Why does the member for Merredin not oppose extended trading hours in his electorate? Mr B.J. Grylls : I do oppose extended trading in my electorate. No shops open on Sunday or after hours. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They do not have to, but they can if they want to. The National Party’s position is completely at odds with the reality in its members’ electorates. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes; I believe that big and small businesses will benefit, but so will the general public. I ask the question rhetorically, but why is it that I can go to Bunnings on a Sunday but cannot go to an electrical distributor around the corner? Why is that? Why do we not take government out of the equation and let a person operating a business who wants to open on a Sunday do so—why not?
Mr B.J. Grylls : I do oppose extended trading in my electorate. No shops open on Sunday or after hours. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They do not have to, but they can if they want to. The National Party’s position is completely at odds with the reality in its members’ electorates. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes; I believe that big and small businesses will benefit, but so will the general public. I ask the question rhetorically, but why is it that I can go to Bunnings on a Sunday but cannot go to an electrical distributor around the corner? Why is that? Why do we not take government out of the equation and let a person operating a business who wants to open on a Sunday do so—why not?
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : They do not have to, but they can if they want to. The National Party’s position is completely at odds with the reality in its members’ electorates. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes; I believe that big and small businesses will benefit, but so will the general public. I ask the question rhetorically, but why is it that I can go to Bunnings on a Sunday but cannot go to an electrical distributor around the corner? Why is that? Why do we not take government out of the equation and let a person operating a business who wants to open on a Sunday do so—why not?
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes; I believe that big and small businesses will benefit, but so will the general public. I ask the question rhetorically, but why is it that I can go to Bunnings on a Sunday but cannot go to an electrical distributor around the corner? Why is that? Why do we not take government out of the equation and let a person operating a business who wants to open on a Sunday do so—why not?
The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes; I believe that big and small businesses will benefit, but so will the general public. I ask the question rhetorically, but why is it that I can go to Bunnings on a Sunday but cannot go to an electrical distributor around the corner? Why is that? Why do we not take government out of the equation and let a person operating a business who wants to open on a Sunday do so—why not?
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes; I believe that big and small businesses will benefit, but so will the general public. I ask the question rhetorically, but why is it that I can go to Bunnings on a Sunday but cannot go to an electrical distributor around the corner? Why is that? Why do we not take government out of the equation and let a person operating a business who wants to open on a Sunday do so—why not?

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