60% of South Australians want to see more flexible trading hours for retailers, a new survey by Roy Morgan and the Australian Retailers Association indicates.
The survey of 875 South Australians identified that the majority would like to see stores open earlier on weekends and later during the week to suit their needs.
The survey found that all age groups were supportive of more flexible trading – the highest were the under 35s with 67% in favour.
66% of people in country South Australia also want more convenient trading hours for customers.
ARA CEO Paul Zahra said the results are clear and that a referendum needs to be called.
"Retailers live or die by responding to their customer's needs – and customers have made their views clear on this topic.
"It’s high time for change and to let the voices of South Australians be heard and acknowledged at a referendum.
"We support the South Australian Government’s sustained efforts for more flexible shop trading hours, and we call on the Opposition and crossbench to listen to their constituents and allow them to have their say," he said.
The current retail trading hour laws see South Australian retailers divided into non-exempt shops and exempt shops and into three districts: CBD, metro/Glenelg and proclaimed shopping districts.
On Sundays for example, non-exempt shops in the CBD and metro areas/Glenelg are allowed to trade between 11am-5pm.
Zahra added that the pandemic has changed the expectations customers have on retailers.
"The world has changed and unfortunately South Australia is living in the past on this issue to the detriment of South Australians and the local economy.
"We live in a modern society and traditional business hours have little relevance in 2021.
"People are working flexibly, splitting time at home and in the office, and parents are working around their own family or childcare commitments.
"Attempting to hold back the hands of time in this area will simply stifle economic growth in South Australia – particularly when the state has an unemployment rate above the national average and the second lowest GDP per capita in the country.
"Trading hour flexibility would provide a significant boost to South Australia’s economy.
"For retailers, weekends and evenings are peak times.
"If shops had the ability to trade for extended periods it would deliver hundreds of millions of dollars in additional wages – that’s more money in the pockets of South Australians.
"Money that would then be put back into the local economy.
"We must do everything we can to create more jobs and support more economic activity.
"Making this change will bring South Australia into line with other economies and liberate thousands of retailers especially small businesses, to meet their customers’ demands," he said.
The bill to enable the referendum is due to be debated soon in the South Australian Parliament.
The survey results
