Allow Shops to Open When They Want

Allow Shops to Open
When They Want

The Marshall Liberal Government remains committed to giving businesses the right to choose when they want to open and South Australians the choice of how and when they want to shop.

What we said we'd do

Deregulate shop trading hours to give businesses the right to choose when they open and South Australians the opportunity to choose how and when they shop.

What we've done

Within months of forming government, we introduced legislation into parliament to deliver on our promise to deregulate shop trading hours.

Unfortunately, the Labor party and crossbenchers blocked this legislation – twice – denying businesses the opportunity to open when they want and denying South Australians, the majority of whom support this change, the right to shop when it suits them – before 11 am on a Sunday for example.

Despite this opposition from the Labor Party, the Marshall Liberal Government has still enabled shops across Adelaide to enjoy fewer restrictions on public holiday trading over the past four years. And we are re-committing to give South Australian people and businesses greater shopping freedom if we are re-elected in March 2022.

The rise of online shopping, flexible work hours and working-from-home arrangements demand our laws keep up with the changing times and reflect the modern society in which we live.

As we have always said, if businesses want to open, customers want to shop and employees are willing and able to work – the law shouldn’t stop them.

What it means for you

  • Greater freedom of choice to shop when it suits you.
  • Helping ‘bricks and mortar’ businesses keep up with online businesses.
  • More jobs and more hours for employees across a range of businesses.

Policy snapshot

  • Just like we promised, we introduced legislation to deregulate shop trading hours within months of forming government.
  • The Labor party and crossbenchers blocked this legislation – twice.
  • We are re-committing to give South Australian people and businesses greater shopping freedom if we are re-elected in March 2022
Download full policy (PDF)
The Marshall Liberal Government remains committed to giving businesses the right to choose when they want to open and South Australians the choice of how and when they want to shop.

The Marshall Liberal Government remains committed to giving businesses the right to choose when they want to open and South Australians the choice of how and when they want to shop.