CHRISTMAS RETAIL TRADING
HOURS
1279. Hon PETER COLLIER to the minister representing the
Minister for Commerce and Industrial Relations:
I refer to the minister's
decision under the Retail Trading Hours Act to allow only 34 hours of
additional trading over the Christmas period.
(1) Did the
minister receive submissions from interested parties prior to making the
decision?
(2) If yes to
(1), how many submissions did the minister receive and will the minister table
those submissions; and, if not, why not?
(3) On what basis
did the minister make the decision to extend retail trading for the Christmas
period by only 34 hours, which is a reduction on previous years?
(4) Why did the
minister not use his powers under the act to extend trading for the full 28-day
period prior to New Year's Day?
Hon
ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:
I thank the member for the question.
The Minister for Commerce and Industrial Relations has provided the following
information.
(1) Yes, the
minister did.
(2) Eight
submissions were received. The minister has requested this information and will
endeavour to table the submissions on the next sitting day.
(3) The minister
gave consideration to the views expressed by stakeholders on this issue, the
interests of the retail sector employees and consumer shopping patterns early
in the Christmas trading period.
(4) It was for the reasons
identified in (3).