Zak Kirkup and the Liberals will extend Sunday shopping hours in the City of Perth to give retailers a welcome boost.
Mr Kirkup said he would work with the Perth City Council to allow retailers to open at 8am on Sundays, rather than 11am.
These extended Sunday trading hours would be for the Perth CBD only, to revitalise city’s retail sector and give certainty to small businesses across the state.
“We want to work with the Perth City Council and its new Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas to energise the city and give businesses hope for a better, brighter future,” Mr Kirkup said.
“Under a Liberal government, CBD retailers will be able to open from 8am, bringing forward the current opening time of 11am, commencing on July 1, 2021.
“We have reviewed our previous Sunday trading policy and listened to the concerns from the small business community.
“This will give businesses in the CBD the opportunity to open earlier if they want to. If we can attract more visitors to the city it will become more vibrant, which can only boost the appeal of Perth as a tourist destination.”
Shadow Minister for Small Business Alyssa Hayden said more choice for shoppers in Perth’s CBD would re-energise the city.
“We have listened to the concerns of our small business sector and it’s vital that we return a heartbeat back into our capital city centre,” she said
“Without our interstate and international visitors and students, our CBD streets are dormant on the weekends.
“We need to create a point of difference and a reason to visit our Perth CBD. That’s why we have chosen earlier trading on Sunday’s in the City.”
As the Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas has said: “If we want Perth to be a family friendly, always on, always open for business city, we can’t wait until 11am on a Sunday for the shops to open.”