Every year the Western Australian Government gazettes extended trading hours for non-exempt shops. Last week, the McGowan Government announced an additional 35 trading hours over the Christmas, and New Year period, as well as the Australia Day public holiday. This expansion of trading hours allows retailers to maximise their opportunity for sales during the busy season.
For general retail shops in the Perth metropolitan area, normal hours are Monday to Friday 8am to 9pm, 8am to 5pm for Saturday and 11am to 5pm on Sunday and public holidays.
Starting Monday 16 December, general shops can choose to open from 7am weekdays until Christmas Eve inclusive. Trading on Saturdays will be an hour longer from 8am to 6pm and Sundays and public holidays will be extended by four hours to 8am to 6pm. This excludes Christmas Day when larger shops will remain closed. Trading for the Australia Day public holiday on Monday January 27 will also be extended to 8am to 6pm.
Commerce Minister John Quigley hopes that more shopping time will translate into higher sales this Christmas season and has encouraged consumers to shop locally rather than buying from online stores that are based overseas. In doing this, consumers will be supporting local retailers who are employers of thousands of Western Australians and help protect the retail industry.
The National Retail Association has updated our Christmas 2019 and New Year 2020 Trading Hours Summary. We have also prepared a suite of resources for all Australian states and territories on the legislation regarding public holiday and seasonal period trading hours.
Read the Trading Hours Summary: Christmas 2019 and New Year 2020 >
Read more on the trading hour legislations in all states and territories >
Get Involved
The National Retail Association Trading Hours Committee is a group of regulatory compliance specialists from many of Australia’s major retailers who come together to discuss policy regarding trading hours and public holidays. The Committee communicates regularly with government, conveying the issues and concerns of the retail sector.
If you are interested in becoming a Committee Member, meetings are held twice a year in Sydney or Melbourne. Please contact David Stout, Director Policy, at policy@nra.net.au for more details.