Arare ministerial invitation about shopping hours will be considered by Wattle Range Council at its monthly meeting in Millicent tonight (Tuesday).
Industrial Relations Minister Kyam Maher has invited the council to consider whether some form of deregulation is appropriate.
At present, Woolworths and Fosters Foodland have regulated hours and cannot trade at night (except Thursdays),Sundays and public holidays.
Minister Maher said the purpose of his letter was to invite the Wattle Range Council to consider whether it wishes for Millicent to continued remaining part of a Proclaimed Shopping District.
However, he said the Wattle Range Council must first give interested poeple an opportunity to express their views to the council on the proposal.
The SE Voice approached Minister Maher for comment last week and his office provided a statement on his behalf.
His correspondence to Wattle Range Council forms part of tonight’s meeting agenda and provides further details about his shopping hours stance.
Minister Maher said he is aware of media reports and from the Millicent Business Community Association that supermarkets in Millicent are experiencing challenges due to a sudden uptake of home grocery delivery coming from outside the Millicent area.
“The MBCA has recently made its annual application for additional Christmas trading hours for the Millicent Shopping District,” Minister Maher said.
“On this occasion, the MBCA has requested extended weeknight trading for most of December and January to enable an assessment of any reduction in grocery delivery during that time.
“The Shop Trading Hours Act 1977 does not provide for granting exemptions that are so extensive as to undermine the controls on shop trading hours set out in the Act.
“I have approved an exemption for Sunday trading on December 15, 22 and 29 and late night trading on December 23, but I have determined that an exemption for an eight week period of additional week night hours undermines the controls on trading hours for the Millicent Shopping District.”
Minister Maher said he was aware the Wattle Range Council undertook consultation about the Proclaimed Shopping District in accordance with section 12 of the Act in 2006 and again in 2017.
On both occasions the local community voted for the retention of the Millicent Shopping District.
Council staff have recommended that tonight’s meeting receive and note the contents of the ministerial letter.
