Page 4834 - Week 16 - Monday, 25 November 1991
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1. The pursuit of ultimate efficiency in commerce conflicts with other social objectives of equal or higher ranking in the list of community priorities - weekend leisure, a shorter working week, social and sporting pursuits, full employment, etc.
Having heard all of those comments, one could be forgiven for expecting that the person that made that submission would fall into the category that the Liberal Opposition might describe as "leftist loony". But when we have a look at the front page of the submission we see that it is written by none other than Ms Kate Carnell, the ACT branch president of the Pharmacy Guild, and No. 2 - or is it No. 3? - on the Liberal ticket.
Ms Follett: It is No. 4, but she has a tick.
MR BERRY: She is No. 4. Very clearly, there is some conflict between Ms Carnell and Mr Humphries on the issue of deregulation of shopping hours. Of course, that suggests the sort of chaos that might exist in the Liberal camps when it comes to making a decision in relation to this matter.
Of course, the Labor Party has taken positive moves on the matter. That is why we are going to oppose the Bill which is before the house. Mr Humphries' Bill proposes to amend the Trading Hours Act 1962 to fix Saturday trading hours to 5 pm. Following strong support by ACT community and industry groups, Saturday trading to 5 pm has been allowed since 13 December 1989.
Mr Humphries: That is right - by the Alliance Government.
MR BERRY: Mr Humphries says correctly - for once - that this was done by the Alliance Government. Approval was given by ministerial declaration, without requiring any amendment to the Act.
Mrs Nolan: But Labor is still allowing it. You would not dare stop it. The people love it.
MR BERRY: Mrs Nolan screams out from the back benches, "And Labor is still allowing it". That is correct; Labor is still allowing it. And the minute that we received the ACIL report we put it out for public consultation because, like Ms Carnell, we believe that all those issues have to be examined, quite contrary to the position that has been adopted by Mr Humphries and the former Liberal member Mrs Nolan. The ministerial declaration was given only after amendments to the relevant award, under the structural efficiency principle, to make provision for all day Saturday trading.
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