The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has urged the Rudd Government to put an end to the diversity of trading regulations in Australia by nationalising Easter retail trading hours.
ARA executive director Richard Evans says a huge burden is placed on retailers and expects Easter trading hours in all states to create chaos for consumers, who want access to goods and services upon demand.
He says the government needs to take the lead in the de-regulation of trading hours, with ACT and Tasmania leading by example.
“It’s inconceivable that in this day and age we have such diversity of trading regulations in Australia where in the ACT there are no restrictions of trade over Easter, yet in West Australia – the growth capital of Australia – the laws do not allow general retail trading on Good Friday or Easter Monday. And we all know that West Australian retailers can’t trade normally on Sundays anyway.
“The range of complex trading laws across the country makes it difficult for national retail chains, franchises and department stores by adding to the complexity of sorting out rosters, wages, budgets, penalty rates and stock levels. Retailers deserve restrictions of trade lifted and 21st century Australian consumers are demanding access to goods and services across the board and without archaic restrictions from state to state and city to city.
“Consumers should be able to shop whenever they feel like it and currently grumpy old men called state politicians tell them they can’t. Let’s move into the modern world by providing consistent de-regulated shopping hours across Australia for our community,” concludes Evans.