WHILE small business associations often struggle to compete with organisations representing big corporate entities, when they work collectively SBAs have the clout to influence policy.
WHILE small business associations often struggle to compete with organisations representing big corporate entities, when they work collectively SBAs have the clout to influence policy.
Nowhere was this more apparent than the recent proposal to change the State’s liquor legislation, where among other things the Government withdrew a commitment to permit Sunday trading for bottle shops.
Among those opposed to the Sunday trading aspect of the legislative changes were the WA Independent Grocers Association, the Australian Hotels Association (WA), Clubs WA, the Independents Action Group, and the WA Retailers Association.
In a recent development, the Government has sent a letter to liquor stakeholders inviting input into a new review of the liquor licensing authority.
This will allow liquor associations such as the AHA (WA) and Clubs WA to lobby for change to help their members.
In addition to their opposition to Sunday trading for liquor stores, these, and other, groups also oppose the opening up of retail trading hours and are lobbying the Government to withdraw its proposed amendments.
The changes to retail trading hours have already passed through the lower house, but there’s some doubt about the reception they’ll get in the upper house. There are some in the industry who believe the Government may drop the plan altogether.
A Government spokesman said the amendments are scheduled to enter the upper house for debate.
Five different independent associations are lobbying the Government, Opposition, and minor parties.
Collectively, the groups opposed to the liquor and retail changes have more than 2,000 members.
They are headed up by some experienced operators, including AHA executive director Bradley Woods, Independents Action Group president Greg Dean, and WA Independent Grocers Association president John Cummings.
Mr Cummings believes moves to allow Woolworths and Coles to open bottle shops on Sundays would hand the majors more market power.
“We have no problem with liquor laws mirroring what other trading laws are,” Mr Cummings said.
“Any small business can open during extended trading hours. We would not like to see the majors open up.
“They’ve got over 30 per cent of the market and if it grows, which is what happens with deregulation, what happens to the smaller wineries? Where do they sell their merchandise?”
But for the Liquor Stores Association of WA, the retail and liquor arguments are quite different.
LSA WA executive director Lindsay James said his organisation had no position on the retail trading debate because it wasn’t the association’s issue.
“It’s not our sector and we don’t get embroiled in things like liquor licensing for restaurants,” Mr James said.
But his membership is certainly divided on the issue.
WA Business News understands that several LSA members are joining other member organisations, such as the Independents Action Group.
Mr James said there was not a large number of members leaving his organisation, however.
“There might be people who are interested in becoming part of the activity that the Independents Action Group are undertaking but they are supporting them as well as us,” he said.
“The Sunday trading issue has been the main priority in the media. It’s not our main priority.
“It’s a major priority but our number one priority is to regulate the availability of liquor.”
“We want to retain the number of store licences. Unless there is an absolute need for one which the act [Liquor Licensing Act] deals with then there are sufficient stores in WA.”
The regulation of liquor is probably the only point in the liquor debate where the LSA and the Australian Hotels Association see eye to eye.
AHA executive director Bradley Woods told WA Business News the hotel industry was restricted by the interpretation of the Liquor Licensing Act by Department of Liquor Licensing staff and he was keen to increase hotel trading flexibility and regulating the supply of alcohol.
Mr Woods said the AHA was continuing to work closely with the WAIGA and IAG and had been doing so for the past 18 months.
“We have mutual interest in working together,” he said.
“What we are seeing is the push against small business and what is happening now is that small to medium businesses are fighting with a cohesive voice.”
The AHA is also championing the cause of the independent grocers and retailers.
“We think there is a reasonable balance of trading hours,” Mr Woods said.
“There is no need for weeknight trading five nights a week, it’s not necessary.”
The curtailing of Sunday trading may yet prompt a response from Woolworths and Coles, both of which may utilise other strategies to realise their expansion plans. Both retailers have purchased hotels in Queensland and New South Wales and it is rumoured the group is involved with two hotels in WA.
Industry sources have told WA Business News the retail giants would likely buy out hotels in order to open bottle shops on Sundays.
Retail Traders Association of WA, a division of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, believes WA’s liquor laws are archaic and anti-consumer.
RTA WA manager Brian Reynolds said his organisation supported the liquor legislation changes that were planned by the Government.
Clubs WA executive director Peter Seaman said his group was supportive of changes to liquor licensing but did not want bottle shops to open on a Sunday.
“We are pushing hospitality,” Mr Seaman said.
“Clubs are the largest licensee group, but the most disadvantaged.
“We are not supportive of hotels that have become big retail outlets. We want things to be about hospitality, rather than people going out shopping and then drinking at home.”
Independent Action Group president Greg Dean said his organisation was opposed to deregulating the hours for both the retail and liquor sectors.
He said deregulation provided Woolworths and Coles greater market power.
“Where they get deregulation they decimate small business,” Mr Dean said.
