Premier Roger Cook has firmly stated that there will be no changes to the restrictive shopping hours in Perth during his current term in government. This announcement comes as the leader of the Opposition, Basil Zempilas, has indicated intentions to propose a new policy for Sunday trading hours in the lead-up to the 2029 election.
Zempilas has joined a growing number of business and community leaders expressing concerns about the current trading regulations, particularly regarding Sunday hours. “Without making an announcement ahead of time, it is clear that reform on retail trading hours is something we believe in,” Zempilas commented. He pointed out that demand for shopping on Sunday mornings is evident as people queue to enter stores.
According to recent research by the Business Council of Australia, Western Australia’s shopping laws are considered the most restrictive in the country. Chris Rodwell, chief executive of the Australian Retailers Association, has also voiced the need for changes, arguing that current regulations negatively impact local businesses amid the rise of online shopping. This sentiment was echoed by Wesfarmers CEO in an interview earlier this year.
Zempilas’s call for reform follows a series of similar pledges from Liberal leaders, including Libby Mettam, who advocated for a 9:00 AM opening time ahead of the March State Election. Despite the growing pressure for change, Premier Cook has aligned himself with Labor-affiliated unions that oppose extended shopping hours.
He maintains that expanding retail trading hours would primarily benefit larger retailers and shopping centers, potentially undermining competition for small businesses. “To extend retail trading hours at this time would just fall into the hands of our big dominant market players,” Cook asserted. He emphasized the need to protect small, family-owned businesses in Western Australia, particularly those located within shopping centers, which would face pressure to open longer if hours were extended.
When asked about the possibility of revisiting his stance on shopping hours, Cook replied, “Not this term of government.” Currently, shopping hours in Perth are regulated by the government, with general trading hours set at 08:00 to 21:00 on weekdays, 08:00 to 17:00 on Saturdays, and 11:00 to 17:00 on Sundays.
Zempilas has indicated that more convenient and accessible shopping, especially on Sunday mornings, will be a significant part of his platform as the 2029 election approaches. The ongoing debate highlights the contrasting views on how best to balance consumer demand with the needs of local businesses in Perth.
