Premier backs limited Sunday trading

Colin Barnett has weighed in on the debate about trading hours in Albany, declaring changes are needed to encourage tourism.

But the Premier said a move towards fixed Sunday trading hours would be better for Albany than full deregulation, arguing it would be an effective compromise between economic realities and community concerns.

“In Perth what we will be introducing is Sunday trading from 11am to 5pm and I’d suggest maybe an easier way for Albany to go is actually to designate the hours rather than talk about total deregulation,” Mr Barnett said.

“That accommodates concerns of churches, concerns of family time, holidays and sport.”

Mr Barnett said having set Sunday trading hours would benefit consumers.

“People can expect shops to be open (at a certain) time … if you have total deregulation then people don’t know when (shops) are open and when they’re not,” he said.

Mr Barnett said Albany depended heavily on tourism and Sunday trading would encourage visitors to stay.

“If shops are open on Sunday I think that helps … if people are around they’ll spend money,” he said.

Albany Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Graham Harvey said the ACCI would support a move towards fixed extended trading hours, but only as a step towards full deregulation.

“Whilst the chamber’s position is ultimately for deregulation of the retail trading environment, we acknowledge probably it will be, in the first instance, a liberalising of the current trading hours, say maybe an extra hour on weeknights and maybe four or five hours trading on a Sunday as a step in the direction of full deregulation at some point in the future,” he said.

“The reason we support full deregulation is because we believe it’s got as much to do with some of the crazy anomalies about being able to sell pasta but not rice and fish hooks but not fishing lines, all that stuff,” he said.

Council is due to consider adopting retail trading deregulation at its February 21 meeting following a motion from Cr Chris Holden.

An alternative motion from Cr Greg Stocks will suggest deregulation only be considered after extensive community consultation.

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