McGowan under pressure to open Perth at 9am on Sundays

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There is a new push for extended shopping hours in Perth, with a senior Liberal MP lobbying for a 9am opening time on Sundays.

WA Liberal shadow treasurer Steve Thomas says he will take a new shopping hours policy to his party ahead of the 2025 State Election which would involve scrapping the current law which forbids shops in Perth opening on a Sunday until 11am.

“I would recommend allowing businesses across the State, including the metropolitan area, to open at 9am on Sundays, and expand the areas where Local Governments can adopt more flexible hours as two initial changes,” Dr Thomas said.

“I see no reasons that these aspects would need to be delayed.”

Ultimately, Dr Thomas says shop owners right around the State should be allowed to open whenever they want.

Generic retail trading pics in Perth CBD.  Picture: Greg Burke 1 Aug 2007
Camera IconThe CBD would be open from 9am on Sundays under Steve Thomas’ proposal. Credit: Greg Burke/WA News

“I believe that deregulation of trading hours is inevitable as society and community changes and adapts to modern living,” Dr Thomas said.

“To that end, I want to take a policy that I call a Roadmap to Full Deregulation to the Liberal Party and ultimately the Liberal-National Alliance before the next election.

Hon Dr Steve Thomas MLC, talks to the media on the economic state of WA, the State Budget and COVID.
Camera IconSteve Thomas. Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The West Australian

“This plan would see a gradual and stepped move to full deregulation over a period of time long enough to allow the business community, especially small businesses, to adapt to the changes.

“It would see some changes that could happen quickly, and others that might take a decade to achieve.”

The shopping hours debate has been raging for years in WA. Although country centres can open their shops whenever they want, as long as they get council approval, Perth shop owners are bound by strict trading laws.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA is calling for more shopping hours in Perth, as South Australia moves to 9am shopping on Sundays.

Pictured at the concert hall are Premier Mark McGowan, Culture and the Arts Minister David 
Templeman and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Tony Buti at today's announcement on the new Aboriginal Cultural Centre.
Camera IconRefusing to budge: Premier Mark McGowan. Credit: Ian Munro/The West Australian

“Their decision means SA and all the other states have left Western Australia even further behind, with the most restrictive and outdated shopping hours in Australia,” CCIWA chief economist Aaron Morey said.

But WA Premier Mark McGowan is refusing to budge on the issue.

Instead, he is backing the position of the powerful Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association, which is opposed to extended shopping hours in Perth.

The WA Nationals also oppose any changes to Perth shopping hours.

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