Image credit: Rundle Mall
All shops – regardless of their size or location, will be able to capitalise on the expected surge in retail demand over the festive season, including from fully-vaccinated interstate visitors with Treasurer Rob Lucas granting special exemptions under the Shop Trading Hours Act 1977.
The extended trading schedule kicks off on November 26, with midnight trade on ‘Black Friday’ – one of the busiest trading days on Rundle Mall’s calendar – in the city and suburbs, only 3 days after South Australia’s border restrictions ease.
Black Friday is becoming increasingly recognised in Australia as the unofficial start of the holiday season and, has prompted many local retailers to choose this day to launch their early sales.
Mr Lucas says, “Christmas is coming early for retails right across the city and suburbs, with a surge in spending activity expected from late November with the easing of border restrictions”.
“This will mean that not only South Australians will be hitting the shops, but they’ll be bringing along their (fully-vaccinated) family and friends from interstate, as well as other permitted visitors who has been desperate to come and travel to SA.”
“After more than 18 months of COVID, where many local businesses have been struggling to stay afloat – and pent up consumer demand, particularly from NSW and Victorian consumers after their long, arduous lockdowns – there’s never been a more critical time to roll out the welcome mat and give our retailers the opportunity to trade”, Mr Lucas continues.
The Australian reported last week that the easing of lockdowns in Sydney and Melbourne led to a $150 million daily spending surge.
The extended trading schedule would enable shops to open for a marathon 66-hours straight in the lead up to Christmas, if they choose, from midnight Wednesday December 15 to 6pm on Saturday December 18.
Mr Lucas said he had again granted an exemption to allow all suburban shops to open on Boxing Day, in addition to the CBD from 9am-5pm, which as proven extremely popular over the last 3 years of the Marshall Liberal Government.
“Our view is and always has been, why shouldn’t families in Harbour Town, Marion, Tea Tree Plaza, Elizabeth, Colonnades and Port Adelaide have the same opportunity and freedom to shop as those who live close to the city?” Mr Lucas states.
Mr Lucas said all employees working during these extending hours will do so on a strictly voluntary basis.
These new trading hours will be:
Black Friday (November 26)
Non-exempt shops in the CBD and suburbs are exempt between the hours of 9pm and 12 midnight on Friday, 26 November 2021.
Pre-Christmas Trade
Non-exempt shops in the CBD and suburbs are exempt between the hours of:
- 9am and 11am on Sundays, 28 November, 5 December, 12 December and 19 December 2021.
- 9pm and 12 midnight on Thursday 16 December, Friday 17 December, Thursday 23 December.
- 5pm and 6pm on Saturday 18 December and Sunday 19 December.
Boxing Day – Sunday December 26
- Non-exempt shops within the CBD can open 2 hours earlier from 9am until 5pm.
- Non-exempt shops across the suburbs can now trade between 9am and 5pm.
Monday December 27 and Tuesday December 28
- Non-exempt shops within the CBD can open 2 hours earlier from 9am until 5pm.
- Non-exempt shops across the suburbs can now trade between 9am and 5pm.
New Year’s Day – January 1
- Non-exempt shops within the suburbs can trade from 11am until 5pm.
- Non-exempt shops within the CBD are already permitted until the Act to Trade until 5pm.
Sunday, January 2
- Non-exempt shops in the CBD and suburbs are exempt between 9am and 11am.
Monday, January 3
- Non-exempt shops within the CBD can open 2 hours earlier from 9am until 5pm.
- Non-exempt shops across the suburbs can now trade between 9am and 5pm.
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