Extended retail trading to boost city celebrations during CHOGM 2011

General retail stores in the Perth Special Trading Precinct will be able to trade until 9pm on the Queens Birthday Holiday on Friday, October 28, 2011.

The Queens Birthday Holiday was moved from Monday, October 3, 2011 to Friday, October 28, 2011 to coincide with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which will be held in Perth.

Acting Commerce Minister Bill Marmion said during CHOGM, Western Australia would be a focus of world political debate when leaders from more than 50 countries, representing more than one quarter of the world's nations and two billion people, would meet to discuss global and Commonwealth issues such as international peace and security, health, the environment and democracy.

Perth and Western Australia will play host to more than 4,000 CHOGM 2011 visitors, including Presidents and Prime Ministers, their foreign ministers, key business people, journalists and community and youth leaders.

Mr Marmion said the extended retail trading would enable consumers and retailers to participate in CHOGM events, including the Commonwealth Festival.

"There will be a number of activities happening in the Perth CBD this day with free travel on the Transperth network to allow anyone who is interested to participate in celebrations," he said.

The Acting Minister said the decision to extend trading hours on the Queens Birthday Holiday also reflected the State Government's general commitment to provide more choice to retailers and consumers on shopping hours. Retailers and consumers can now take advantage of the extended trading opportunities in the Perth Special Trading Precinct.

General retail shops in the Perth Special Trading Precinct will be allowed to open between 8am to 9pm on the Friday, October 28, 2011. All other special trading precincts which include Fremantle, Joondalup, Armadale and Midland will be permitted to trade between the normal public holiday special trading precinct trading times, from 8am to 5pm.

The trading hours specified above apply to general retail shops only. Shops that have applied for a Small or Special Retail Shop Certificate can trade each day of the year if they choose, including on public holidays. Small retail shops may trade 24 hours a day, while special retail shops can trade from 6am to 11.30pm each day of the year.

For more information about CHOGM 2011 go to http://www.chogm2011.org/

Commerce Minister's office - 9213 6400