The West Australian government has extended retail trading hours for general retail shops in the Perth metropolitan area for the Easter Monday and Anzac Day public holiday. However, this latest trading hour’s extension is expected to put more pressure on smaller stores such as convenience stores.
The move comes as the WA Chamber of Commerce called for changes to WA’s penalty rates, which they said are strangling people’s jobs.
And a major campaign in South Australia has led to Business SA and the Shop, Distributive & Employees union making an agreement that could see penalty rates traded for an overall pay rise.
Under the new WA laws, trading hours for Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Sunday remain unchanged, with retailers allowed to open from 8am until 6pm on Easter Monday, April 6, and the Anzac Day public holiday, April 27.
Commerce Minister Michael Mischin said the decision provided more flexibility for retailers, who previously were only allowed to open between 11am to 5pm on these public holidays, while metropolitan retail shops will remain closed on Good Friday.
“The extra trading hours on Eastern Monday and the Anzac Day public holiday are consistent with the public holiday extensions during the 2014-15 Christmas and New Year period,” he said.
“It will not be compulsory to open and close at these times, however it will give retailers the choice and ability to better cater for the demands of their customers.”
General retail shops in the Capel local government district (situated between Bunbury and Busselton) were also been granted extended trading and can open later on weeknights and Sundays.