Premier Roger Cook slams trading hour debate as ‘anti-small business’

A political push to extend Perth’s retail trading hours is “anti-small business”, the Premier has declared, saying such a move would pit small operators against big companies on Sundays. The comments, made at a CCI breakfast on Thursday, came just days after the Government loosened restrictions on trading hours in Albany, allowing shoppers there to shop from 10am in Sundays — an hour earlier than in Perth. Mr Cook railed against Opposition plans to liberalise trading hours, saying it would see larger companies crowd out smaller businesses and make the sector less competitive. The Liberals and Nationals are proposing relaxing trading hours in Perth, with Opposition Leader Shane Love using the issue to grow support in the metropolitan area, where the Nationals are contesting seats for the first time. “If you support liberalisation of retail trading hours, you are fundamentally anti-small business,” Mr Cook said. “If you support the full liberalisation of retail trading hours, as the Liberals are doing, they are simply placing all those small businesses in the firing line, in the sights of large businesses that will seek to crowd them out “I’m not quite sure why this push is coming on. As I said, we have a demand problem for the retail sector, not a supply problem. Let’s protect and defend our small businesses.” Mr Cook said the issue facing retailers was not a supply problem but rather demand. “It’s an industry which is confronting the downturn in high street retail foot traffic, we see an industry which is struggling with online retail trading and the impacts that that’s having on their businesses,” he said. “The last thing that they need is to be told that they have to go to work at 8am on Sunday.” In response, Liberal leader Libby Mettam said Mr Cook was out of touch with small businesses because they were not in corporate suites at fancy events or at Trades Hall. “Rather than walking red carpets, Roger Cook should walk through local communities to hear what Western Australians and small business actually want,” she said. “The WA Liberals have continued to deregulate trading hours in Perth and our policy to be announced before the next election will reflect our ongoing commitment.” At the Nationals’ State Conference at the weekend, Mr Love said WA was stuck in the dark ages on trading hours. “In order for Perth to become a modern, vibrant, 24-hour-city which appeals to local families, workers and visitors, we need to make sure our trading hours meet the needs of consumers and businesses,” he said. “Western Australia’s restrictions on retail trading hours are archaic — they are out of step with the modern world and in desperate need of reform.” Ms Mettam has hinted at only minor changes to Perth’s trading hours if elected premier, saying she was open to shops in Perth opening at 9am.