Vic: Petrol stations caught in Easter trading ban

00-00-0000
Vic: Petrol stations caught in Easter trading ban

MELBOURNE, April 9 AAP - Confusion deepened today over holiday trading in Victoriaafter it was discovered most petrol stations were barred from opening on Good Friday,Easter Sunday and Anzac Day.

The state government today promised the public that essential services would be exemptfrom a selective ban on Easter trading and a legal anomaly which affected most petrolstations would be cleared up with retrospective legislation after Easter.

Small Business Minister Marsha Thomson said companies with more than 20 employees couldnot trade on non-trading days under the Shop Trading Reform Act 1996 and petrol stationworkers were legally oil company employees.

Some pharmacies were also affected and would be acting illegally if they opened.

But she said the law would be changed.

"We are acting swiftly to ensure motorists are not inconvenienced over the Easter break,"

Ms Thomson said today.

Banning Easter Sunday trading has been a longstanding ALP policy and the party tookit to the last election, but the state retailers body has said many of its members woulddefy the law and open regardless.

Under the government's Easter trading rules, which passed through state parliamenta fortnight ago, smaller businesses such as milk bars and food outlets will be able toopen on Easter Sunday and only companies with 20 or more employees must close.

However tourist areas and many regional centres were exempt.

The retailers association said the ban would confuse tourists and locals and hurt Melbourne'sreputation as a shopping hub.

Ms Thomson said Victorian shops would still be open seven days a week, 361 and a halfdays a year.

The opposition said the ban on petrol stations from opening, which only surfaced today,was caused by the government's ignorance of the structure of the oil industry and labelledthe situation a disastrous bungle.

National Party leader Peter Ryan said the widespread exemptions already granted madethe idea of a ban on Easter trading a farce.

"All or part of 17 of country Victoria's local government areas will be exempt from the ban.

"This is a development we welcome, but it makes for a ludicrous situation when almosthalf the cities and shires outside Melbourne are exempt.

"We might as well not have the ban at all.

"It's a farce when you can go to an undertaker or buy a swimming pool but you can'tvisit the supermarket," Mr Ryan said.

AAP ra/kim/de

KEYWORD: EASTER VIC