Easter trading hours a ‘headache’

South West retailers have been urged to take note of trading hours for the upcoming extra-long weekend with Easter Monday and Anzac Day falling on the same day.

The Bunbury Chamber of Commerce and Industries has received only one inquiry about the restricted trading times, but warned business owners to be aware of the five-day holiday trading arrangements.

There is no trade on Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Anzac Day on April 25, however Saturday, April 23 is normal trading while trading on Tuesday, April 26, is from 10am to 4pm.

‘‘The confusion for people is probably the Tuesday more than anything else given that the Tuesday is an actual public holiday with normal public holiday trading hours to apply in Bunbury,’’ chamber chief executive officer Andrew Horan said.

‘‘Because Anzac Day is on the Easter Monday, the Monday would have been normal public holiday trading hours but this year it’s Anzac Day so there’s no trade on that day which is typical for Anzac Day.’’

Retail Traders’ Association of WA director Wayne Spencer said the ‘‘headache’’ of the Easter and Anzac Day holidays falling across the same long-weekend was an example of SouthWest retailers being ‘‘hamstrung by WA’s archaic trading laws’’.

‘‘The complexity of the State’s retail trading laws is causing widespread confusion across retailers and consumers,’’ he said.

Mr Spencer said his association believed it was unfair for retailers outside of the special trading precincts of Armadale, Midland, Perth, Joondalup and Fremantle to be prevented from trading longer hours.

‘‘The success of Sunday trading in these areas is proof there is overwhelming community support for shops to be able to open where they want and when they want,’’ he said.

Throughout December, nearly 1.3 million people, which equates to more than 72 per cent of the Perth population, chose to go shopping on a Sunday, Mr Spencer said.

‘‘But that is having a severe impact on those retailers who fall outside the special areas and are forced to close their doors on a Sunday,’’ he said.

The association has urged the State Government to remove the restrictions, arguing it was preventing growth, investment and innovation in the WA retail sector.