ARA urges retailers to understand their legal obligations on ANZAC Day

THE Australian Retailers Association (ARA) encourages all retailers to understand the trading restrictions that apply to their business this ANZAC Day – Saturday 25 April.

ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said confusion is common for business owners when it comes to organising rosters around public holidays and trading hours.

“There has been a lot of confusion as to whether businesses can trade on ANZAC Day and whether the following Monday is a public holiday or not.

"Given the fact that all states and territories have quite different restrictions when it comes to public holiday trade, it's important for retailers to do their research and ensure they understand their legal obligations during this time. For example, the only state this year to grant workers a replacement day off on Monday, April 27, is Western Australia. The below summary is a general guide to ANZAC Day retail trading hours, however, the ARA urges all retailers to contact the ARA for any specific enquiries.

“Across the country many retailers will be closing to commemorate ANZAC Day and the centenary of the Gallipoli landing. To this day many Australian retailers carry honour boards in public areas in their businesses as commemoration of the significant sacrifice made by so many,” Mr Zimmerman said.

ANZAC Day retail trade state by state breakdown:

Victoria

Victorian based retailers cannot trade between midnight and 1pm on Anzac Day, unless they fall into the category of “exempt shops”, which includes businesses with 20 or fewer employees or businesses with no more than 100 workers at any one time in the seven days prior to Anzac Day. After 1pm, all businesses may open, however, some shops are free to trade all day, including chemists, petrol stations, cafes, restaurants, takeaway outlets and hire outlets such as video stores.

New South Wales

NSW follows similar rules to Victoria, with most businesses unable to open prior to 1pm. However exempt or small shops can open, including bookshops, chemists, newsagencies, petrol stations and convenience stores. There are also a number of exempt trading areas, based on local government areas.

Tasmania

Tasmanian retailers are restricted from opening before 12.30pm, with some exemptions. Service stations, pharmacies and newsagents are able to trade, as are businesses that are not part of a shopping centre or mall, where the number of employees having worked there in any day during the previous March did not exceed 10.

ACT

Anzac Day is considered a normal day of trade in the ACT, however, many businesses choose to follow the tradition in other states of not trading before 1pm.

South Australia

Adelaide based retailers are prohibited from opening before 12pm as are hardware, furniture, floor coverings and motor vehicle parts businesses. Non-exempt businesses in the Greater Adelaide shopping district and other proclaimed shopping districts cannot trade on Anzac Day. Exempt businesses include service stations, restaurants, cafes, real estate auctions and night clubs and hotels where the main business is selling alcohol.

Queensland

Independent shops must wait until 1pm to trade on Anzac Day, unless they are predominately food and/or grocery stores. However, supermarkets are closed on the Gold Coast, Cairns CBD and Port Douglas. There are exemptions for businesses involved in printing, publishing and distributing newspapers, utility companies, mining businesses, supplying milk, bakeries, cafes and takeaway food kitchens.

Particular areas of Queensland come with restrictions on trading before 1pm, including South East Queensland, New Farm, Yeppoon Tourist Area, Townsville (excluding the CBD and North Ward), Tourist and Seaside resorts, Great Barrier Reef Wonderland, Cairns Tourist Area, Port Douglas Tourist Area and Mossman, Whitsunday Shire Tourist Area, Hervey Bay Area, Townsville CBD (including North Ward, Toowoomba, Mackay, Innisfail, Atherton, Mereeba, Gladstone, Rockhampton, Emerald, Moranbah, Bundaberg, Fraser Coast, Gympie and Biloela.

Northern Territory

Anzac Day is considered a normal day of trade in the Northern Territory, although businesses many opt to remain closed before 1pm as a sign of respect.

Western Australia

Retailers in the Perth metropolitan area cannot trade on Anzac Day, with the exemption of small shops and “special retail shops” which can trade between 6am and 11.30pm. These include pharmacies, garden nurseries, hardware businesses, newsagencies, boating shops, shops at sporting venues and international standard hotels. All retailers in the Perth metropolitan area will be free to trade between 8am and 6pm on the replacement public holiday on Monday, April 27.

Since 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has been the peak industry body representing Australia’s $265 billion retail sector, which employs over 1.2 million people. The ARA ensures retail success by informing, protecting, advocating, educating and saving money for its 5,000 independent and national retail members throughout Australia.

Visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.
                                                                                                         
ends