Extended shopping hours for Christmas

• An extra 50 retail trading hours for Christmas shopping and Boxing Day sales
• Christmas Eve shopping to end at 6pm this year, compared with 9pm last year
• Extended trading for major retailers also approved for Australia Day 2017

Perth consumers will get 50 extra retail trading hours this year to do their Christmas shopping and take full advantage of the Boxing Day sales.

Starting from Monday, December 5, weekday retail trading will be extended one hour with general retail shops in the Perth metropolitan area allowed to open at 7am instead of 8am until Tuesday, January 3, 2017, when normal hours resume.

Commerce Minister Michael Mischin said major retailers could also open from 7am on Saturdays and from 8am on Sundays and public holidays, and be allowed to stay open until 6pm on weekends and public holidays.

"These extended trading hours will provide greater choice and convenience for shoppers and give retailers the opportunity to maximise their sales at the busiest time of the year for the retail industry," Mr Mischin said.

"The extended hours are similar to last year, except that shopping on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve this year will end at 6pm because they fall on a Saturday, whereas shops were open until 9pm last year because they fell on a Thursday.

"These approved extensions are in line with our policy of gradually easing retail trading restrictions. The Liberal National Government has been at the forefront of reforms to retail trading hours in Western Australia since 2010, with the introduction of weekday late night trading and Sunday trading throughout the entire Perth metropolitan area.

"We have also pledged to extend Sunday trading hours to 9am if this government is elected for a third term in 2017, providing greater freedom, fairness and flexibility for retailers.

"The opening up of retail trading in Perth has proven to be very popular with consumers and the retail industry and has added vibrancy to commercial districts.  It has also helped brick and mortar shops compete more effectively with their online competitors and better cater for the demands of their customers."

Major shops will remain closed for Christmas Day.  Four extra hours of shopping have also been approved for the Australia Day public holiday on January 26, 2017, with general retail shops allowed to open from 8am to 6pm.

Fact File

• For more information on trading hours, visit http://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/tradinghours

Minister's office - 6552 5600

2016-17 Christmas/January extended trading hours

General retail shops - Perth metropolitan area