Commerce Minister Troy Buswell said the new government would not stand in the way of the City of Bunbury's application to open Sunday trading to all general retailers from early next year.
Mr Buswell has approved the order granting Bunbury ministerial exemption to vary its trading hours outside those applying in the Perth metropolitan area.
His decision follows Bunbury's application in April to the previous government.
Formalities for the approval were completed in July with the process only requiring the signature of former Consumer Protection Minister Sheila McHale for the exemption order to proceed, when then Premier Alan Carpenter called the election.
Mr Buswell said he respected the City of Bunbury's desire to allow Sunday trading and its right to apply for exemption under the Act.
"The system of allowing regional communities to determine their own position on retail trading hours was put in place by the Court Government in 1993 by then Minister Peter Foss," he said.
"Whatever our new Government's final position will be on trading hours in the metropolitan area, we are not about to remove the right for self-determination on this issue which regional municipalities enjoy."
Mr Buswell said it was important to note that no retailer would be compelled to open on Sundays. It would be entirely their own decision.
"Nor can any retailer in a shopping centre be required by their landlord to open on a Sunday, unless it had been agreed with the tenant beforehand and provided for in their lease," Mr Buswell said.
