Alexander Marc: Shop Trading Hours Act Repeal Act (Abolition of Restrictions) Amendment Bill — Consideration of Report of Commerce Committee 
Alexander Marc: Shop Trading Hours Act Repeal Act (Abolition of Restrictions) Amendment Bill — Consideration of Report of Commerce Committee 
[Volume:616;Page:11982] 
MARC ALEXANDER (United Future) 
: 
 I suspect that of all the debates we have here particularly those concerning conscience issues this one is destined to change the opinions of probably no one. The Shop Trading Hours Act Repeal Act (Abolition of Restrictions) Amendment Bill is something I am bound to support because the more the State tries to legislate against individual choices the more I believe individuals will be denied the ability to exercise their choices. It is about the right of employers and rights of employees. The idiocy of the State to impose its ideas as to when businesses can or cannot be open when it is not a shareholder is not on the board and does not have any pecuniary interest in those businesses makes no sense whatsoever. To me that is an absurdity. It is not even consistent. The police for example do not suddenly stop and down tools on certain days. Hospitals do not stop and close up. The hospitality industry for the most part does not shut up shop just because it happens to be day X Y or Z. 
I have been both an employer and an employee and I have worked on any public holiday that came my way—primarily as a matter of choice to be honest. For many years when the duties were being handed out I chose to work on the days that other people had off specifically because I wanted to take time out with my family when I could enjoy the things that were open. I did not want to spend that time just sitting at home with the family just looking at each other if I chose not to. Primarily I think the point for me is that no person ought to impose his or her ideas or ethics on to another individual when it does not directly relate to or have an impact on that person. 
One of the things I am reminded of is that primarily the argument here is not about religion; it is simply about the choice to be open. We cannot all down tools on any specific day. Let us look at Easter Sunday for example. I see a church as being nothing more than a business that peddles its wares. It collects money and it sells a certain product a certain theology that one can purchase. That is not a slight against any particular religion. As an employer I was mindful of the fact that sometimes my employees used to come to me and say that certain days were important to them whether for religious reasons or for personal reasons—their wife’s birthday their birthday or whatever it might be. As an employer it seemed important to me to give them their due consideration and allow them that time off if it was at all possible and in all cases it ended up being possible. I see no inconsistency with being able to be reasonable and giving the time off on days that were important to the individual—not necessarily the days that the State mandates as being important to the country but the days that are important to the individual. 
One of the reasons I support this bill is that we need to allow employers and employees to have flexibility to decide for themselves what constitutes for them their special days. We all have special days days that matter to us but the State cannot possibly be in a position to mandate them; it comes from us. It seems illogical to me that anybody can foist his or her ideas on somebody else. 
Hon Member 
: Are you getting to the good bit? 
MARC ALEXANDER 
: I am getting to the good bit. I have spent a lot of time in business; I have had my own business. I have to say that in the hospitality industry the idea of not being open on days such as Christmas Easter New Year’s Day and so on goes absolutely against the grain. Those are the most important days for that type of business. I understand that this bill will not actually affect the hospitality trade other than for restaurants out at vineyards which will be able to provide the wine that is grown there. There are so many facets to our lives now that revolve around a 24-hour 7-day week that we have individualised the time we have with our families and the time we have off to pursue our individual interests and I think the State should butt out.