NSW extends ANZAC Day retail trading ban to full 24 hours

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Retail trade will be banned in New South Wales on ANZAC Day beginning next year. The change, announced by the state government, aims to give more people the chance to attend commemorative events.

Transcript

00:00Retail traders like supermarkets and major fashion stores were required to close until

00:061pm on April 25.

00:09This was designed so that employees would have the opportunity to attend commemorative

00:13events like Anzac Day marches and dawn services.

00:17There were exemptions for small businesses like cafes, pharmacies and news agencies which

00:22could operate at whichever they choose.

00:25But today the NSW Government has made a new ruling.

00:29Supermarkets and major fashion stores will no longer be able to open after 1pm.

00:34In fact they'll have to be closed for the full 24 hours.

00:37The Government says a review into Anzac Day trade restriction last year found a majority

00:42of people supported a full day closure as a way of better recognising Australia's ex-servicemen

00:48and women.

00:49Premier Chris Mins says the change will allow employees the opportunity to attend commemorative

00:54events which aren't always taking place in the morning anymore.

00:58We believe there's been a commercialisation, a creeping commercialisation of Anzac Day

01:03over a prolonged period of time to the detriment of the importance of the day.

01:09There's many things that divide up our community in NSW and Australia and the truth of the

01:14matter is the nation's national day is Anzac Day.

01:18The Government says a full day closure of retail stores on Anzac Day will bring NSW

01:23up to speed with some other Australian states.

01:26This has been met with the support of the Shop and Warehouse Workers Union who say

01:30they have long advocated for this change.

01:32But the Australian Retailers Association has offered a statement of concern.

01:37I'm here at Sydney's CBD Cenotaph speaking to people of their thoughts and feelings and

01:42here's what they had to say.

01:43I think it should be, out of respect for our veterans.

01:47My father was in World War II and I come to here and march for my father, there's nobody

01:52left anymore and I think everybody should stay out of the shops.

01:55I think the shops are open long enough, they don't need to be open any further.

01:59Seven days a week and if people can't show one day respect, well what's left?

02:05So it's going to send a message out there that everyone should be out there, you know,

02:10using this time for that reason.

02:12This change is one of two announcements the Government has made in relation to Australia's

02:17wartime history.

02:18A new memorial dedicated to honouring those who served in the Middle East like Iraq and

02:24Afghanistan will be built in the Domain in Sydney's CBD.

02:29It's the site of Sydney's first ANZAC Day service in 1916.

02:34The NSW RSL President Mick Bainbridge says $2 million has been allocated to the memorial

02:40and that there will be an extensive consultation with the veteran community to ensure that

02:45it meets their needs.

02:46For RSL NSW we're very happy about the decision because it will allow our members, our veterans

02:53and their families to attend commemorations in Sydney and be with their families during

02:59those times.

03:00A full day closure of supermarkets and major fashion stores on ANZAC Day will take effect

03:06next year.

03:07Small businesses like cafes, news agencies and pharmacies that I mentioned before will

03:12still have those same exemptions.

03:14And for those wondering about their annual game of two-up, well pubs and clubs are exempt

03:18from this new ruling as well so that will still be in place.

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