The West Australian Liberal party is pushing for fully deregulated shopping hours, saying consumers want more choice and it will create jobs, but the state government currently has no plans to change retail hours.
Opposition leader Mike Nahan said on Sunday that society had changed and the only exceptions to deregulation should be Christmas, Good Friday and Anzac Day.
“The Liberal party calls on the government to just simply move rapidly towards full deregulation, where you leave it up to the shop owners to (decide) when they want to operate and you give maximum flexibility to consumers,” he told reporters.
Commerce minister Bill Johnston said there was currently no intention to change trading hours for general retail shops in Perth.
“If there was, the Labor party would launch an inquiry on the impact of extended trading hours,” he said.
Nahan said there was no need for another study into the issue.
He claimed unions, such as the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association, were controlling the Labor state government.
“I’m afraid the McGowan government has actually franchised-out the policy on shopping hours to the shopping union, and they do not represent shop owners, small businesses or consumers,” Nahan said.
He said there were inconsistencies because some rural shires had deregulated shopping hours.
The McGowan government announced a 12-month extended trading hour trial in the City of greater Geraldton last week.
The trial will enable general retailers to trade from 8am – 9pm Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm on Saturday and 11am to 5pm on Sunday and public holidays, with the exception of Christmas Day, Good Friday and Anzac Day.
A review by will be provided by the City at the conclusion of the trial for further consideration, identifying the impact on small businesses, employment, tourism and the local community.
“One of our election commitments was to work closely with the City of Greater Geraldton to maximise cruise ship visits and boost tourism in the region,” McGowan said.
“We have kept our promise and approved extended retail trading hours, to benefit the local community and tourists.
“I have been provided with a wealth of information from stakeholders on this issue and found there is significant support for similar trading hours to Perth in the Geraldton community,” he continued.
It comes after an application by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry to extend trading hours for general retail shops on Monday for the Queen’s birthday public holiday was rejected by the Commerce Department.
But the state government says CCI never approached the minister about it.
Mr Johnston said an announcement on Christmas retail trading in Perth would be made in early November.
According to a survey of 832 West Australians released by the WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) before the recent WA state election, nearly 60 per cent support extended trade on weekdays, with a further 54 per cent favouring extended trade on Sundays.
The Barnett Liberal Government introduced legislation to extend WA trading hours in 2015, but the bill has since become stuck in the Senate.
