Albany Cr Mario Lionetti questions ACCI handling of trading hours business survey, shutdown by deputy mayor

A City of Albany councillor has been shot down by the deputy mayor for saying a survey on extending trading hours had not been sent to businesses. At the council meeting on Tuesday, Cr Mario Lionetti said the Albany Chamber of Commerce had not properly conducted its survey of businesses, which is separate from the community survey. “We as a chamber and as councillors all voted and gave them some money to actually do this, which was ratepayers’ money,” Cr Lionetti said. “We have done it as an honesty for them and I’m not happy about that.” Deputy mayor and presiding member Cr Paul Terry interjected. “Cr Lionetti, I think you will find that the Chamber of Commerce have been doing their survey of their business members,” he said. Cr Lionetti went on to incorrectly claim that all franchises in Albany can open at any time. “All franchises in Albany can open any time they like,” he said. “The corporates are the only ones who can’t, I’ve had legal advice on that.” Cr Terry corrected Cr Lionetti, citing Harvey Norman as an example. “Sorry Cr Lionetti, that’s not true,” Cr Terry said. “In fact, a number of franchises can’t, Harvey Norman for one is a franchise.” Cr Lionetti responded saying Harvey Norman is a privately owned corporate while a member of the gallery shouted out “they’re on the stock exchange” before Cr Lionetti said “Sorry, I can’t speak” before sitting down. Retail trading hours for general retail shops in the city are limited to 8am to 6pm weekdays, with late-night shopping to 9pm on Thursdays and trading from 8am to 5pm on Saturdays. Small retail shops can open 24 hours a day all year if they have certification verifying they have six or fewer owners operating no more than four shops with 25 or fewer people working at a time, and they can sell any goods except motor vehicles. Mira Mar resident Michael Pemberton raised the survey issue during question time. “Many small business owners have been asking the question as to when businesses — be they chamber or non-chamber — will be surveyed, because it seems no one has yet been contacted,” he said. “Is there a date for this part of the survey to be completed?” ACCI chief executive Kristen Pyrz-Brown said the survey had been sent to thousands of businesses. “Yes we were given the money to help Catalyst Research conduct their survey,” she said. “We paid them to do that and they’ve sent out emails to thousands of businesses in the Albany area with the survey link. “If someone feels like they haven’t received it, the Catalyst Research email address is on our Facebook page and they can ask to be sent another link. “Otherwise I’d advise them to check their junk inbox.” The business survey, along with the community survey, closes on May 31 and businesses can contact the Albany Chamber of Commerce to request the survey link.