The South Australian Centre for Economic Studies

- A joint research unit of the University of Adelaide and the Flinders University of South Australia

Further Enquiries:

3rd Floor, Nexus 10 (10 Pulteney Street)
The University of Adelaide
Adelaide SA 5000

PO Box 3192
Rundle Mall SA 5000
Australia

Telephone: (+618) 8313 5555
Facsimile: (+618) 8313 4916
Email

Independent Statutory Reviews of Amendments to the
Shop Trading Hours Act 1977 and to the Holidays Act 1910

The Statutes Amendment (Shop Trading and Holidays) Act 2012 made several amendments to the Shop Trading Hours Act 1977 and to the Holidays Act 1910.

The Act requires an independent review of the impact of each of these sets of amendments. These reviews are being undertaken by the South Australian Centre for Economic Studies of the University of Adelaide and Flinders University.

The reviews formally commence on the 1st of January 2013 with the final reports to be submitted to the Minister for Industrial Relations by the 31st of March. Prior to the formal start of the review we are making a call for submissions from interested parties to ensure that the full range of community experiences and views are considered as part of the reviews. Submissions may be made to one or both of the reviews.

Review of changes to shop trading hours in the Adelaide CBD.

Invitation to Make Written Submission

The Statutes Amendment (Shop Trading and Holidays) Act 2012 amended the Shop Trading Hours Act 1977 to allow for trading by non-exempt shops in the Central Business District Tourist Precinct (the CBD) from 12:00 noon until 5:00 pm on Anzac Day, and from 11:00 am until 5:00 pm on all other public holidays except Christmas Day and Good Friday. The objective of these changes was to ensure that Adelaide is a vibrant central meeting place for the South Australian community and for visitors to South Australia.

In addition, the Act streamlined the applications and assessment processes for exemption requests to shop trading hours. It allows the Minister for Industrial Relations to issue blanket exemptions for a geographic area during busy holiday periods, eliminating the need for individual businesses in the area to submit separate applications. The maximum exemption period is now increased from 14 to 30 days to eliminate separate applications for the extended holiday periods.

Finally, at the request of the relevant industry bodies, the Act removed the provision which allowed car yards and boat yards to trade on Easter Saturday.

Written submissions are invited for consideration as part of the review of these changes to the Shop Trading Hours Act 1977.

A paper setting out some of the background to the regulation of shop trading hours in South Australia, and the changes made to the Act, is available here.

Please note that submissions may be released in conjunction with the report of the review. If you wish part or all of your submission to remain confidential please indicate this clearly in the submission.

Submissions should be forwarded to:

Review of Changes to Shop Trading Hours Act 1977

South Australian Centre for Economic Studies

PO Box 3192

Rundle Mall SA 5000

Or, by email: saces@adelaide.edu.au

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS EXTENDED TO 5PM, FRIDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2013

Review of the creation of part day public holidays from 7pm until 12 midnight on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve

Invitation to Make Written Submission

The Statutes Amendment (Shop Trading and Holidays) Act 2012 amended the Holidays Act 1910 (the Act) to create two part-day public holidays from 7pm until 12 midnight on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

Written submissions are invited for consideration as part of the review of these changes to the Holidays Act 1910.

A paper setting out some of the background to public holidays in South Australia, and the changes made to the Act, is available here.