The relaxation of Sunday trading laws is a start but the changes does not go far enough, according to Rockingham Kwinana Chamber of Commerce president Justin Smith.

1. Shopping Changes ‘A Start’
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2. By Cahair O’kane
Sound Telegraph
February 29, 2012
The relaxation of Sunday trading laws is a start but the changes does not go far
enough, according to Rockingham Kwinana Chamber of Commerce president Justin
Smith.
His comments follow last week’s announcement that the State Government would finally
bring WA into line with the rest of the country by amending the Retail Trading Hours Act.
The changes will mean all metropolitan general retail shops, which include major
supermarkets and department stores, can open between 11am and 5pm on Sundays.
While pleased the laws were finally being relaxed, Mr. Smith believed there must be
further changes to achieve the competitive retail sector the Government claims the new
law will provide.
“It’s a move that well overdue.” he said. “It’s a start but there is still lots more
deregulation to be done.
“Why just 11am-5pm? Why even 10am-5pm? Bunnings can open at 6am and stay open
until 9pm if they want, yet Masters are bound to the hours of 11 to 5.
“It’s better that what it was, but there is still that distinction for no reason. There might be
a 15 to 20 percent difference in terms of the stock the two hold, but the difference in the
allowed opening hours is not relevant.
“As far as I’m concerned, business owners should have the right to open whenever they
want, within reason. If they’re open on Sundays and they’re employing people, then it’s
all a positive contribution.”
Mr. Smith believes the law changes could have a positive impact on the
Rockingham Kwinana area’s unemployment rate among young people, which is one of
the highest in WA.
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3. “The unemployment rate among our young here in Rockingham and Kwinana is around
20-25 percent,” he said. “The relaxation of the Sunday trading laws will apply largely to
shops that will employ young, unskilled workers, so it fits perfectly and should help the
employment sector as well,” he said.
© The Mortgage Gallery Rockingham