Page 2810 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 22 November 1989
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Canberra, with the advent of Saturday afternoon trading, has the potential to become a regional shopping destination. Currently, Wagga is a bigger retail centre than Woden, Belconnen, Fyshwick or Civic. Currently many people drive over the border to shop in Queanbeyan. We only have to count the number of cars with ACT number plates in the Riverside Centre, Queanbeyan, car park, something I have done on several occasions and will do again when trading on Saturday afternoon begins operating in December.
Since announcing my intention to introduce this amending Bill I have received letters and telephone calls from many in the community, by far the great majority of whom were very positive in their recognition of benefits of Saturday afternoon trading. There is one letter I would like to read into the Hansard because I think the request has merit and I urge the Government to give the request full consideration. It is a letter from ASBA and it states:
I refer to our recent discussions regarding the proposed extension of trading hours in the ACT. I would first like to emphasise that the Australian Small Business Association is not opposed to extended hours per se. We are, however, very concerned that once again the small business proprietors of Canberra are being confronted with an initiative without anyone having any real idea of the repercussion that such a step might have.
ASBA would have no objection to extended hours being adopted for an appropriate trial period which might extend for three to six months after Christmas, provided this time is used to conduct a review of the effects of extended hours on small businesses in Canberra.
In order to obtain the necessary information a consultancy should be arranged. The consultant would carefully select a representative sample of small businesses who would then participate in a thorough study of the increase or decrease in business, increase in costs and other problems encountered during the trial period. In addition to the group selected for detailed study, input would be obtained from anyone who was prepared to provide information.
May I just say before I continue, Mr Speaker, that that very same thing has happened in Western Australia and the outcome has been very positive. It continues:
In our view it is important that the effects of extended trading hours are fully investigated. If extended hours do nothing more than spread the turnover of small businesses over longer hours, without increasing sales, then it will drive up costs, leaving small business people and the people of Canberra worse off.
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