The path has finally been cleared for Sunday trading with amendments to the Retail Trading Hours Act having passed through State Parliament.
 
Commerce Minister Simon O’Brien said the new laws gave all general retail shops in the Perth metropolitan area, including major supermarkets and department stores, the right to open their doors between 11am and 5pm.
 
O’Brien heralded the change as a historic moment for consumers and businesses.
 
“The move to give all retailers the right to open their doors on a Sunday was a key plank of this government’s commitment to bring trading hours into the 21st century,” he said.
 
“It will provide greater choice and flexibility for busy consumers who want to be able to buy goods on Sundays, while creating a fairer, more competitive retail sector in Perth.”
 
The special trading precincts in Perth, Fremantle, Midland, Armadale and Joondalup will be abolished to make way for the new regime, a move the Minister said would create a level playing field for retailers.
 
“Consumers, including people who are new to or visiting Perth, are also now likely to find shops open across the whole of the metropolitan area on Sundays, rather than having to make a trip to a specially classified area which has permission to trade,” he said.
 
Shops will also be able to trade on most public holidays, with the exception of Good Friday, Christmas Day and ANZAC Day, when they will remain closed.