New laws introduced by the Malinauskas Labor Government have saved individual workers at Tea Tree Plaza and West Lakes close to $10,000 over the last 12 months, providing much-needed relief to South Australians currently battling a cost-of-living crisis.
Today marks one year since the Private Parking Areas (Shopping Centre Parking Areas) Amendment Bill 2022 commenced, which protects motorists from paying for parking at any shopping centre with a gross lettable area of 34,000 square metres.
In other major shopping centres where this has been allowed to occur it can cost workers $35 a day for parking. In a major win for small business and the community, modelling has estimated the new laws have saved a full-time employee at $9100 over the last year.
Removing paid parking has also greatly improved staff safety by allowing them to park on-site for free.
Tea Tree Plaza management had announced plans to install boom gates and start charging for parking that was previously free before the State Government stepped in to help the community, delivering on a key election commitment.
The new bill also protected employees and customers at West Lakes shopping centre which had previously charged for parking since 2013.
Today’s celebration comes a day after the Liberal Party again opposed the matter in Parliament.
Quotes
Attributable to Nick Champion
We promised to stop paid parking at major suburban shopping centres and we have saved every full-time employee $9100 over the past 12 months.
This important intervention by the Government couldn’t have come at a more crucial time, providing daily savings and much needed relief during a cost of living crisis.
I’m also proud we have been able to improve staff safety by allowing workers to park onsite in the well-lit car park for free.
This is another example of this Government standing up for the community to help them when times are tough.
Attributable to Olivia Savvas
It’s been one full year since the Malinauskas Government enacted legislation to stop paid parking at major shopping centres.
As a former employee here at Tea Tree Plaza, I know firsthand the toll that paid parking would have had on shoppers, business owners and workers here at the centre.
Thousands of residents signed our petition against paid parking at Tea Tree Plaza, and they have welcomed legislative change. I’m proud to have delivered on our commitment to stop paid parking at TTP – saving millions of dollars for residents here in the North East.
Attributable to Josh Peake, State Secretary of the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association
One year on, retail and fast-food workers at West Lakes and Tea Tree Plaza are continuing to reap the benefits of this landmark legislation.
This legislation has saved retail and fast-food workers thousands of dollars that would have been otherwise spent on parking fees.
Workers at West Lakes and TTP now go to work knowing they’ll always be able to park on-site, free of charge and without putting their safety at risk – and that’s a good thing.
The SDA, alongside workers, customers, and businesses, campaigned for years to bring an end to paid parking at West Lakes and prevent these plans at TTP.
The State Labor Government listened to workers and the community to deliver a practical and permanent outcome that prevents unfair and unaffordable paid parking plans.
