PHOTO: Coonamble Cellars owner Rodney Vallett will shut for ANZAC Day following new NSW trading rules coming into effect this year.
A Coonamble bottle shop owner says new trading restrictions on retailers during ANZAC Day are unfair.
‘Non-exempt’ stores with more than four staff working on any day throughout the year will not be allowed to remain open after 1pm on the day.
Licensed venues like hotels and clubs can still stay open under rules published on 20 February by the NSW government, although not standalone shops that sell packaged alcohol.
“It should be either of two ways: change it back to what it was or shut it all like how it is on Christmas Day,” Coonamble Cellars owner Rodney Vallett said.
“If you talk to all the bottle shop owners, they don’t care if you shut us down because that gives us another day out. We push our sales to the day before.
“I’ve got to go through (NSW) Fair Trading to do an exemption. Well, you show me where that’s fair trading?”
Mr Vallett said there was already an informal local agreement where only venues providing breakfast would open before the ANZAC Day march.
At least one local retailer said they would have to close. Others said they usually close or reduce hours anyway, both out of respect and to reduce wage costs on the public holiday.
The changes affect premises that are used wholly or predominantly for retail sale, although exceptions include chemists, newsagencies, petrol stations and takeaway restaurants.
“Restricted trading hours help to honour the memory of those who served and ensure ANZAC Day continues to hold important cultural significance across the state,” Minister for Industrial Relations Sophie Cotsis said.
“This move is aligned with feedback sought on full-day restrictions last year which received strong support from veterans, veterans’ organisations, and the public.”