Editorial: Choice to open should be shopped around

Basil Zempilas has put extended shopping hours back on the political agenda, promising to modernise Perth’s outdated shopping laws — if, one day, he becomes Premier.

The Liberal leader says all retailers should have the right and choice to open on Sundays at 8am, the same time they do every day of the week.

And in committing to the three-hour expansion he’s set the stage for yet another debate over the State’s antiquated retail trading laws, which WA Premier Roger Cook refuses to modernise.

It remains a modern mystery to most in Perth why some bricks-and-mortar shops can open Sunday mornings while others must hold out until 11am, despite impatient shoppers queuing at their doors, and close by 5pm.

Especially in an era where 24-hour online shopping is the norm.

Last year Australians spent $82.6 billion in online sales, a 14 per cent year-on-year increase.

Online shopping habits are changing, with people willingly making more frequent but less costly transactions.

That means people are making more and more of their everyday purchases online.

With online shopping as their greatest challenge, WA businesses small and large do not need laws holding them back further.

And if West Australians want the high streets and shopping centres we desire in our metropolis to flourish, they need to be offered a more even playing field in which to operate.

Last year the Business Council of Australia ranked WA’s retail trading hours the worst in the nation, at No. 8.

It’s little wonder.

The 11am Sunday rules stop Bunnings - the home of supposedly everything for your home - are the main reason the homewares giant can’t sell home appliances like washing machines.

And yet you can buy a sausage in a bun outside Bunnings, but not the raw ingredients from major supermarkets to make your own.

There’s plenty of other adages but in short, the current laws are a dog’s breakfast.

There have been calls for change in the past, not surprisingly backed by prominent business leaders like Wesfarmers boss Rob Scott as well as the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA and the Australian Retailers Association.

The biggest stick-in-the-mud remains the powerful Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association, which continues to vehemently oppose more shopping hours for Perth.

Deregulating shopping hours is a political power struggle that traditionally has not gone the way consumers would think.

Mr Zempilas’ predecessor Libby Mettam took a 9am Sunday opening to last year’s election. Her time as Liberal leader ended less than two weeks later.

The current Opposition leader is now attempting to go one hour further with his pitch for 8am trading by 2029.

Mr Cook’s defiance means this will remain a political matter until at least then but it need not be, if only businesses were given the option.

In tough economic times, shops should be free to open longer if they want. If there’s no value, they won’t. But they should have a choice.