ALP promises to extend retail trading hours if re-elected
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The ALP says trading hours will be extended if it retains government. (ABC)
The Labor Party has pledged to extend retail trading hours if it wins the state election.
Under a policy released by the Premier Alan Carpenter today, weeknight trading would be extended to 7.00pm, and electrical and furniture stores would be allowed to open on Sundays.
Special shopping districts would also be set up in Joondalup, Midland and Armadale.
Mr Carpenter says he expects his policy to receive widespread support.
"Commonsense modest reform of our retail trading hours which will allow some increased trading hours, but [which] I believe respects the result of the referendum at the last election," he said.
Too confusing
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry says the Labor Party's policy doesn't go far enough.
The Chamber's executive director Trevor Lovelle says creating new shopping precincts in Joondalup, Midland and Armadale will add further complications to an already confusing system.
"You're adding more precincts to an already complicated system," he said.
"It just means that shoppers have to search for areas that they can go and shop when they want to instead of having an opportunity to go when or where they want to."
"Our research shows in fact we're struggling to find any state in Australia that has suffered from a deregulated trading regime, so we would anticipate that Western Australians would enjoy the same benefits given that opportunity," he said.
Changes are workable
The WA Independent Grocers' Association President John Cummings says the proposed changes are modest and workable, and the Labor Party has listened to the concerns of small retailers.
"If there are to be any changes the changes need to be modest and these changes are proposing that way so in that regard we are on the right step, we've just got to see at the end of the day how they finally play out," he said.
"I think it's good that the Premier and the government understand that the wholesale changes that were first proposed can't go ahead under the light of what the people of Western Australia want, what small businesses want and the outcome of the referendum."
