West Australian’s will get greater shopping choice under a WA Liberal plan to extend Sunday trading hours in the Perth metropolitan area.

WA Liberal Leader Libby Mettam has committed a future WA Liberal Government to allowing metropolitan shops to trade from 9am on Sundays, an extra two hours on the current 11am opening time.

Sunday trading hours in regional areas will be unchanged and will remain at the discretion of local communities through local governments.

“This is a modest and sensible change that will give West Australians the choice to shop earlier on a Sunday morning instead of waiting until 11am,” Ms Mettam said.

“The practical effect of these overdue changes is that West Australian consumers will have greater choice, and shops will open in line with other capital cities.

“Allowing trading from 9am on Sundays will give West Australians the opportunity to earn more in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, while lowering grocery bills through greater competition.

Industrial Relations Shadow Minister Steve Thomas said the additional hours would create greater flexibility for employees to work different hours.

“Many retail workers are young people working to support themselves through study and the additional availability of hours will be appreciated,” he said.

“We will do everything to put downward pressure on the cost of living, and this is just another way we will do that.”

“Perth deserves to be a vibrant hub at the centre of the economic, industry and tourism hotspot that is Western Australia, but has had to overcome a number of obstacles.

“One of those is bringing our trading hours regime into the 21st century, which in my view means putting consumers at the heart of the policy.

“The world has changed around issues like work rosters, including fly-in-fly-out, and the increase in online shopping, and it is time for our retail regulations to recognise that.

“Allowing shops to open at 9am on Sunday across the entire metropolitan region is a step in the right direction.”