Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett is poised to introduce a bill to extend weekday shopping times to 9pm in metropolitan Perth.

As it stands, metropolitan Perth shopping precincts are not allowed to operate past 6pm, in contrast to other Australian states.

IGA has voiced its opposition to extended hours, because it believes Safeway and Coles would then be able to edge out smaller supermarkets.

In 2005 Western Australia voted against deregulation of trading hours in a referendum.

THE VIEWS:

Western Australian IGA president John Cummings, as reported by The Sunday Times:

“This is going to hurt independent retailers. All (Coles and Woolworths) are really doing is pushing for as many hours as they can so they can dominate the market. Nationally, Coles and Woolworths have 80 per cent of the market. In some markets – Sydney for example – (Coles and Woolworths) have close to 90 per cent of the market. In WA, IGA has 32 per cent of the market, Coles 32 per cent and Woolworths 36 per cent.”

Joe Spagnolo, for The Sunday Times:

“There are worrying signs that the only shops to open late will be Woolworths and Coles supermarkets.

And even they have said they can’t see much sense in a new shopping hours policy that allows them to open until 7pm instead of 6pm.

Myer has already said it won’t be staying open late because it won’t get the patronage.

According to Myer, if Perth was really serious about rejuvenating itself, it would open its shop doors in the suburbs and the central business district on Sundays as well.

Realistically, neither Labor nor the Liberals should be selling a few extra shopping hours on weeknights as anything special.”

BREAKING IT DOWN:

A) WA should get in line with the rest of the country by adopting extended trading hours.

Not only will there be a boost to employment, but the convenience factor will be of great benefit.

B) Sales data should be monitored by the government in the first couple of months to make sure Coles and Woolworths are not dominating smaller rivals.

Fairness is also important. Keeping competition alive is the best way to keep prices down and keep people in jobs.

WHAT’S YOUR OPINION?

Should WA adopt extended trading hours?

Will there be some sort of cultural fallout or impact from extended trading hours?

Is dominance of the supermarket industry by Coles and Woolworths going to be a problem?

Chapel Street, South Yarra, is an iconic shopping and entertainment hub in Melbourne’s inner southeast.

In an attempt to combat the lower spending impulses of people in tougher economic times (as is the present case with the Global Financial Crisis), Chapel Street traders have organised advertising on a tram that runs along the shopping strip.

The Route 78/79 tram will display advertising for the website chapelstreet.com.au until August 2009.

THE VIEWS:

Stonnington Mayor Claude Ullin, as reported in Stonnington Leader:

“(It’s a) reminder to people traveling from St Kilda to North Richmond that on their doorstep is one of the best shopping precincts in the world.”

BREAKING IT DOWN:

A) Retail traders associations will often come up with clever advertising campaigns to try to kickstart stalling sales.

The Chapel Street retailers have shown good business sense in trying to increase their profile in tough times.

WHAT’S YOUR OPINION?

Will the measures taken by Chapel Street shop owners increase their sales during a difficult patch?

Do you think you are more likely to buy from a shop if inventive advertising is used?

Are there other advertising techniques that would be more effective for the shop owners of Chapel Street?

Bridge Road, Richmond, is a famous shopping strip that is popular with tourists and is home to shops housing the wares of emerging designers.

During peak hour travel times, the road can become highly congested because of its proximity to the Melbourne CBD.

Both trams and cars travel on Bridge Road, with many of the cars filled only by single occupants.

In April 2008 the Victorian Premier John Brumby announced a plan to extend clearway times on all busy roads within 10 kilometres of the CBD.

A clearway is a traffic lane that is allowed to hold parked cars, except during nominated times.

The plan was to make uniform clearway times for the busy roads from 6.30am to 10am and from 3pm to 7pm on weekdays.

Bridge Road shop owners revolted at the plan, arguing that it would drastically reduce their business.

In March 2009, the Victorian Government changed the 3pm to 7pm clearway stipulation so that it only applied to lanes within 100 metres of main intersections.

THE VIEWS

Stonnington Mayor Claude Ullin, as quoted in The Age:

“All the research suggests that extended clearway hours are not the solution to traffic congestion, and that the vibrancy of Melbourne’s shopping strips should be protected at all costs.”

Victorian Roads Minister Tim Pallas, as quoted in The Age:

“Having listened to the community and concerns of local traders it is appropriate to act in the way we have… We won’t get the full efficiency of the (road) network that we would otherwise have got. But this is a step in the right direction. I admit this is a compromise.”

BREAKING IT DOWN

A) Enhancing clearways is not the best option for reducing traffic congestion; making public transport more appealable is.

Businesses don’t want to suffer from the lack of convenience of parking for customers, but they would also be better served in the long run by more people visiting by public transport.

B) Clearways all over Melbourne are only a temporary, inefficient solution.

Public transport is the best inner urban option in the long run.

WHAT’S YOUR OPINION?

Should clearways be established in areas like Bridge Road?

Is enough being done to promote public transport as an attractive option?

Is traffic congestion a serious problem in inner city areas?

What could be done to satisfy both businesses and traffic needs?