SHOPS will be allowed to open at whatever time of day or night they choose under a bold new plan by WA Liberals to fully deregulate retail trading hours.

The dramatic policy change by Opposition leader Mike Nahan heaps pressure on Premier Mark McGowan to relax the State’s archaic and often confusing shopping rules.

It comes after the State Government rejected a business lobby plea to allow shops to open from 8am to 6pm for tomorrow’s Queen’s Birthday public holiday, instead of the usual 11am-5pm.

“The time has come for the State Government to fully deregulate shopping hours in WA,” Dr Nahan said.

Camera Icon Mike Nahan. Credit: PerthNow, Nic Ellis

“With the exception of several days of the year, such as Good Friday and Christmas Day, retailers should be allowed to trade whenever they like. Our lifestyles have changed. We live in a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week society and our shopping hours should reflect that.”

Department store giant Myer backed the call, saying Christmas Day, Good Friday and the morning of Anzac Day were the only days shops in Perth should not be allowed to open.

Myer WA general manager Kerry Davenport said full deregulation would “strengthen the local economy”.

“Myer believes that trading hours should be deregulated nationally to allow retailers to trade in line with customer preferences,” she said.

But Commerce Minister Bill Johnston said the McGowan Government had no intention of extending trading hours in Perth and would “launch an inquiry” before considering any change.

Mr McGowan said there were no plans for an inquiry.

Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association WA secretary Peter O’Keefe said the union would not support any changes.

“From our perspective, if Bill (Johnston) did absolutely nothing (on retail trading hours) we would be happy. Every time the issue of trading hours is revisited the members are quite resolute. (Their opposition) is mainly about the effect on their quality of life,” he said.

Dr Nahan accused WA Labor of being beholden to the SDA, the State’s second-biggest union.

“The McGowan Government’s decision to block extended trading hours this long weekend is a clear signal that the unions are now controlling trading hours in WA,” he said. “Commerce Minister Bill Johnston is a former head of the SDA and this decision is payback for union support for the Labor Party.”

Mr McGowan said the comments were “laughable”. “The Liberals are more interested in trying to score cheap political points than helping to get our State back on track,” he said.

“We won’t be taking any advice from the people who ruined the State’s finances and were the worst economic managers in the State’s history.”

Before the State election, the Liberals promised to allow shops to open from 9am on Sundays. Currently, the only Perth shops that can open before 11am on Sundays are small and speciality stores.

CCI WA chief executive Deidre Willmott said business owners should be able to decide when they open.