Boxing Day shopping to stay in NSW
SHOPPERS across NSW will be able to keep emptying their wallets on Boxing Day, with the state government set to continue public holiday trading after a successful two-year trial.
The state government on Thursday announced it would legislate to allow Boxing Day trading to continue in all parts of NSW, on the recommendation of an independent review into the 2015 and 2016 trial.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the review, which considered feedback from retailers, employees and shoppers, showed the extension was giving employees, shoppers and businesses more choice, and levelling the playing field for retailers.
Before the 2015 change, only a small number of stores in locations including the CBD and Bondi Junction were allowed to open.
“Until we introduced these reforms in 2015, the people of Western Sydney, Wollongong, Newcastle and many parts of regional NSW had to miss out on getting a Boxing Day bargain close to home, while people closer to the CBD had that opportunity — that situation was simply unfair,” Mr Perrottet said in a statement.
“After a two-year trial and a comprehensive review, we now know there is clear support for giving all retailers the option of opening their doors on one of the biggest trading days of the year, provided staff are given a free choice as to whether they will work or not.
“Our position strikes a sensible balance, giving retailers and their employees the freedom to work if they want to, but also putting in place strict sanctions to ensure they are not pressured to do so.”
David Borger, western Sydney director of the Sydney Business Chamber, said the decision was a “no-brainer”. “Personally I’d rather play backyard cricket on Boxing Day, but lots of people might like to grab a bargain or get some extra hours in,” he said.
“No one’s forced to work, no shops are forced to open, but why not have the opportunity? There is great enthusiasm to be able to have those big bargain days, but in the past you would have to schlep into the city to partake.”
Australian Retailers Association executive director Russell Zimmerman said Boxing Day sales in NSW last year came in at nearly $800 million. “We’re very happy about this,” he said.
“We think it was totally unfair that you could have a retailer in the CBD whose opposition is in North Sydney, and one can trade and one can’t. That doesn’t seem very fair to us. Retailers have to pay the higher penalty rates, so staff get a nice pocket of money too.”
Under existing law, retailers who pressure employees to work on Boxing Day will face fines of up to $11,000 per employee, and landlords who coerce retailers to open face fines of up to $22,000. The government did not adopt recommendations from the review to introduce minimum penalties.
An advertising campaign will be developed with retailers and unions to ensure retailers and employees are fully aware of their rights ahead of Boxing Day 2017. Legislation to enable the 2015 reforms to continue will be introduced in the coming months.
Originally published as Good news for bargain hunters
