Big retailers continue push

DESPITE opposition from the main political parties, the big end of retail town is confident it will achieve deregulated trading hours.

Embattled Fair Trading Minister Doug Shave has made it clear there will be no change to the retail trading hour regime – at least not during this term.

However, the Liberal view could change following the election.

The Labor Party is staunchly opposed to any change in retail

trading hours, a position restated in a recent direction statement on small business.

However, the results of a Ministry of Fair Trading review of trading hours Mr Shave received more than twelve months ago could provide the impetus to change these views.

While the National Competition Policy-driven review’s results have not been made public, it is understood the review found no evidence to support trading hours’ regulation.

A spokesman for Mr Shave said the industry reference group involved with the review suggested some changes should be made.

“However, that group could not reach a consensus on what those changes should be,” he said.

The Government is conducting another survey to find if there is any community benefit to deregulating trading hours.

Under national competition policy, something found to be uncompetitive can be retained if it benefits the community.

The WA Government stands to gain $6 million to $7 million in National Competition Commission funding if it complies fully with the NCC guidelines.

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