After years of debate, the future of shop trading hours in South Australia looks to be settled, with the new State Labor Government making good on its election commitment to allow supermarkets in the metropolitan area to trade between 9am and 11am on Sundays.

Retail vehicle and boat dealerships will know all too well the former State Government’s preference for full industry deregulation, which meant that most would be forced into Sunday trading in order to compete, regardless of the additional costs and staffing issues they would face.

Concerns around deregulation in vehicle retail have been informed by interstate experience in Victoria and New South Wales, which demonstrates that despite the additional trading days and hours afforded, dealers are seeing increased costs of 20% without a corresponding increase in sales.

This sentiment has been echoed in South Australia, with the overwhelming majority of members telling the MTA that they do not support trading hours deregulation for their industry.

In response to the State Government’s Shop Trading Hours (Extension of Hours) Amendment Bill 2022, the MTA has offered conditional support, provided there is a robust process for government to consult the MTA for exemptions, for example, on Easter Saturday, based on the majority views of the industry.

There is merit in the net public benefit in allowing supermarkets and other retail to trade from 9am on Sundays. The policy position presented by the State Government strikes a compromise which balances this with the needs of vehicle dealers.

For now, a blanket approach to shop trading deregulation is off the table and the MTA is pleased that the voice of our industry has once again been listened to.