The Chamber of Commerce and Industry Western Australia (CCI) has applauded Premier Colin Barnett’s announcement that his government would extend Sunday trading hours if re-elected in 2017, while independent retailers including convenience stores have long opposed further extensions to Perth and WA’s shop trading laws.
CCI CEO Deidre Willmott said the commitment was common sense and extending trading hours would make WA more liveable and people friendly.
“CCI has long campaigned for the deregulation of retail trading hours on the grounds that business owners should decide when their business should open, not governments,” Ms Willmott said.
“Deregulating trading hours will make life better for business owners, for their customers and for employees.
Mr Barnett said the Liberals would allow a 9am opening time on Sundays and would also seek to change weekend penalty rates to a maximum loading of 50 per cent.
He said double time on Sundays was not economical for small businesses and was not fair for employees who worked full-time during the week.
“Retail chains – Coles, Woolworths and others – have entered into enterprise agreements with the unions where the penalty rates are reduced for other employment benefits,” Mr Barnett added.
The state government has deregulated shopping hours in stages, including late-night trading during the week in 2010 and Sunday trading from 11am in 2012.
In late 2014, the WA Independent Retailers Organisation said that independents will lose sales to the national chain retailers and face extra costs with further extended trading hours.