Grylls to block Barnett on shopping hours bid

ROBERT TAYLOR STATE POLITICAL EDITOR, The West Australian October 15, 2009, 2:14 am

WA News / Steve Ferrier ©

Premier Colin Barnett has warned the Nationals and the Opposition of the electoral risk of blocking his plan for extended shopping hours in tourism precincts.

Opposition Leader Eric Ripper and the Nationals leader Brendon Grylls have hinted that Mr Barnett’s latest plan for shopping deregulation could be disallowed by Parliament.

Mr Barnett wants to use administrative regulations which do not require legislation in Parliament to expand the Perth tourism precinct to Subiaco, Mount Lawley, South Perth, Victoria Park, West Perth and East Perth in order to give those areas Sunday and late night trading.

But Mr Grylls said last night that the Nationals would not allow shopping hours to be “extended by stealth” and indicated the Nationals would move a disallowance motion in Parliament to the regulations.

If that happened Labor and the Nationals could again thwart Mr Barnett’s plan.

The Premier said this morning that a disallowance motion would “be on their heads.”

“If the Parliament wants to block this, if the Labor Party and or the Nationals want to block it they will have to initiate a measure in the Parliament to deny people the right to go shopping, quite different from simply saying I won’t support it,” Mr Barnett said.

“They will have to bring in a motion to prevent people shopping, that’ll be on their heads.”

Mr Barnett said he would campaign on the shopping issue "right up to the Federal election” but denied the Nationals stance was putting strain on the alliance.

“It’s not putting tension into it, I want to see this happen, there are bigger issues around Western Australia that we’re dealing with but I will not give up on this issue Perth people want the right to go shopping,” he said.

Earlier today Mr Grylls denied that he was defying the Premier on the issue.

He told ABC radio that he found it “remarkable” his fellow politicians and media were suggesting the Nationals should break an election commitment.

“I’m not defying the Premier. I find it quite remarkable that media outlets across the state are actually suggesting I should break an election commitment to the people of WA,” Mr Grylls said.

“Normally it’s the media that forces politicians to keep to their commitments. The Nationals position will not change…our conviction on this is strong (and) it will remain strong.

“I think we’re clearly showing on a situation like this where we had a clear position prior to the election…all our team will ever do is on the floor of the parliament and when asked publicly is put our position and our position is we do not support the position.

“I continue to be bemused by the fact that because I’m the leader of a small political party that the things that we say and committed to and are passionate about are somewhat less important than those of the major political parties.

“I don’t think it’s what any of our supporters believe.

“My message is that nationals do not support the deregulation of trading hours.”

Yesterday, after Labor refused to compromise on 8pm weeknight shopping, Mr Barnett said the Government would investigate expanding the tourism precinct which allows businesses in central Perth to trade on Sundays from 11am to 5pm.

Under the Government plan, it would then set trading hours within the expanded precincts by ministerial order for 9pm closing times Monday to Friday and permit Sunday trading.

It would also consider applications from other metropolitan shopping hubs to be considered as tourism precincts. An existing application from the City of Joondalup would be fast-tracked and applications from other areas would be encouraged.

Mr Barnett said Labor's rejection of his compromise had forced him to adopt an alternative route to shopping deregulation.

"We'll discuss it without the local authorities but the initial assessment is that under the existing legislation we can use administrative tools to extend both weeknight shopping and bring Sunday shopping into those areas," Mr Barnett said.

But Mr Barnett's plan was greeted with enthusiasm by the mayors of Subiaco and South Perth who said their residents would welcome the move.

"It's a great idea because residents and people all over WA need more flexibility in their shopping hours and the ability to finish work and go do their shopping," South Perth mayor James Best said.

Mr Ripper said the Premier was getting ahead of himself.

"On first glance it seems to me that most of what he's wanting to do would require the approval of Parliament, so I don't think it really changes the situation that we've got where he's unable to obtain the support of his partners in Government, the National Party," he said.

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Ed 01:46am Wednesday 21st October 2009 WST Report Abuse
stupid kunt
lutzkrieg 12:35am Wednesday 21st October 2009 WST Report Abuse
Reality check...80% roy morgan poll against Brendan the lonelinest man in WA...
lutzkrieg 12:33am Wednesday 21st October 2009 WST Report Abuse
So sooner all later the media will give Brendan an interview and ask what he thinks of the nickname nanny man.
Ian W 09:03pm Tuesday 20th October 2009 WST Report Abuse
Great opportunity to upgrade the tag lines for WA tourism. How about; Western Australia - Welcome to the Eighties, or 21st Century - No Thanks or WA - Holding back progress for 150 years. or Welcome to King Canute's Country. Get Real guys!
chaschtli 07:02pm Tuesday 20th October 2009 WST Report Abuse
Goldwolfie thank you so much?you are spot on West Australia is a International Embarassment/with all the Morons in Power?
goldwolfie 05:38pm Tuesday 20th October 2009 WST Report Abuse
Yep lets give Eric Ripper and Brendon Gyrlls their dummies and the can go to bed at 6pm when the shops close. After all WA does not want to cater for all of the foreigners that want to spend their money and the 10,000 workers that are needed for the gas projects. Better still why don't we all move to QLD where the houses are land are cheaper and the shops are open. Who wants to live in the NANNY State.
Joe 05:37pm Tuesday 20th October 2009 WST Report Abuse
Adrian deregulated shopping hour doesn't mean that shops have to open if it's not viable or if the just don't want too, there is a choice and they can adjust there hours too suit customers better. It is possible that some shops will go out of business but that happens all the time, usually because they don't meet or the is not enough consumer demand. Thats free market, we don't need to subsidies inefficient and uncompetitive business. As for employees, again labour is a free market the employer and employees agree on hours, employees still have their rights by law. Really where do people come up with these silly concerns, is there stories of these sorts of things happening else where with deregulated shopping hours?
sue g 04:56pm Tuesday 20th October 2009 WST Report Abuse
Well the shops cant be open at that time anyway because Brendan & my Nanna have to run the knitting class so he wont be able to keep an eye on undesirable people that are up after 7pm and we dont want those pesky foreigners hanging around you dont know where they've been or if they've washed their hands. Late night shopping will only encourage them to want to spend time here. Theres no need for people to be on the streets like larikins. They should be at home doing their chores and saying their prayers before bed!
lutzkrieg 04:28pm Tuesday 20th October 2009 WST Report Abuse
to Wanton...HUH!?!
PR Lab 04:05pm Tuesday 20th October 2009 WST Report Abuse
Debates are necessary in any democracy. But why the heck are we having this one? I thought we were a free-market economy. Solution: let's have another $10m referendum. @prlab
Wanton 01:49pm Tuesday 20th October 2009 WST Report Abuse
That's what happens when the basely stupid buy power with everybody else's money! Oh, have the Cows got over the clocks not changing this year? I see that the De-centralisation of Salesyards and Abbatoirs in non viable localities is a Gr8 idea, as long as they can find a way to make them economically viable! Royalties slush fund will never address the tyranny of distance for the Pilbara or beyond, it will be used for fatuous committees in the CP heartlands of the South. Peel Thunder's Premiership 2010, no doubt, LOL
Adrian 01:24pm Tuesday 20th October 2009 WST Report Abuse
Colin Barnett is very brazen with his attitude. Seems like power has gone to his head. Late night shopping will send shops broke, put young staff in danger regarding those who would see it as an easy target for robbery. I have spoken to several young shop assistance and the response has been that they dont wont late night shopping in the suburbs, "Thursday night is already slack as " according to those same young employed folk. Come on Mr Barnett, most of the population dont live in Cottesloe - Claremont??? Maybe your wealthy section can have it withou imposing on the rest of us. A & C Tapley
Adrian 01:24pm Tuesday 20th October 2009 WST Report Abuse
Colin Barnett is very brazen with his attitude. Seems like power has gone to his head. Late night shopping will send shops broke, put young staff in danger regarding those who would see it as an easy target for robbery. I have spoken to several young shop assistance and the response has been that they dont wont late night shopping in the suburbs, "Thursday night is already slack as " according to those same young employed folk. Come on Mr Barnett, most of the population dont live in Cottesloe - Claremont??? Maybe your wealthy section can have it withou imposing on the rest of us. A & C Tapley
lutzkrieg 10:07pm Monday 19th October 2009 WST Report Abuse
Actually the gst does come into the topic andrew because you mentioned the minority. I was pointing out the fact that the minority wanted the GST. Now your minority (80% according to opinion poll) want extended trading so my point was relevant, not hypocritical.
lutzkrieg 09:19pm Monday 19th October 2009 WST Report Abuse
Hahahaha ... oh yeah, where were we? the shopping thing...that's right.
lutzkrieg 09:18pm Monday 19th October 2009 WST Report Abuse
Wasn't it possum? I'm not quite sure. Mass debater is more original than master baiter....you gotta admit. Not as good as mortar forker (someone who mixes cement with a garden fork)
Joe 09:04pm Monday 19th October 2009 WST Report Abuse
LOL lutzkrieg, just came to mind, did Dame Edna Edvage (aka Barrie Humphreys) use that in a similar way?
Clinton 08:56pm Monday 19th October 2009 WST Report Abuse
No Andrew Mass debater is not offensive, it's juvenile.
lutzkrieg 08:51pm Monday 19th October 2009 WST Report Abuse
Muppets aren't affectionate? I used to love that show when I was a kid. I can't believe that is an offensive term...Manamana !!! do do do doodoo
Clinton 08:47pm Monday 19th October 2009 WST Report Abuse
See Andrew I also said free of padding & a clear & concise manner. After all this is the question you have been dodging for four days.