Question concerns the Premier raising the issue of retail trading hours and potential funding loss, creating uncertainty for small businesses. The Premier defends the decision, citing a National Competition Council document and increased trading hours to avoid penalties.

AnsweredQoN 865Legislative Assembly
Asked
25 June 2003
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

RETAIL TRADING HOURS, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FUNDING
I have a supplementary question. Given that the Premier still cannot tell the House how much it will lose in funding, why did he create uncertainty for small business by raising the issue last December? What was it all for, Premier? Dr G.I. GALLOP

AnswerView source ↗

The Deputy Leader of the Opposition obviously cannot read or does not choose to read. I refer him to a National Competition Council document, which stated that the State of Western Australia would be subject to a substantial penalty if it did not move to change its trading-hour regulations. We have moved to change our trading hours by adding 12 hours - that is, 20 per cent extra - to trading hours in Western Australia, and we expect there to be no penalty. However, it was ludicrous for the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to say that there was no threat to the payments to Western Australia. It was so ludicrous that it indicated to us the basis of the Opposition’s contribution to Western Australian politics today. There is no basis to the Opposition’s contribution. It has decided to adopt a negative attitude to every issue. Its negative attitude will not get the Opposition anywhere. The people of Western Australia want a solution to the issue and we have provided a solution.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: The Deputy Leader of the Opposition obviously cannot read or does not choose to read. I refer him to a National Competition Council document, which stated that the State of Western Australia would be subject to a substantial penalty if it did not move to change its trading-hour regulations. We have moved to change our trading hours by adding 12 hours - that is, 20 per cent extra - to trading hours in Western Australia, and we expect there to be no penalty. However, it was ludicrous for the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to say that there was no threat to the payments to Western Australia. It was so ludicrous that it indicated to us the basis of the Opposition’s contribution to Western Australian politics today. There is no basis to the Opposition’s contribution. It has decided to adopt a negative attitude to every issue. Its negative attitude will not get the Opposition anywhere. The people of Western Australia want a solution to the issue and we have provided a solution.
The Deputy Leader of the Opposition obviously cannot read or does not choose to read. I refer him to a National Competition Council document, which stated that the State of Western Australia would be subject to a substantial penalty if it did not move to change its trading-hour regulations. We have moved to change our trading hours by adding 12 hours - that is, 20 per cent extra - to trading hours in Western Australia, and we expect there to be no penalty. However, it was ludicrous for the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to say that there was no threat to the payments to Western Australia. It was so ludicrous that it indicated to us the basis of the Opposition’s contribution to Western Australian politics today. There is no basis to the Opposition’s contribution. It has decided to adopt a negative attitude to every issue. Its negative attitude will not get the Opposition anywhere. The people of Western Australia want a solution to the issue and we have provided a solution.

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