Regional liquor stores in Western Australia have won the right to trade on the Sunday of long weekends following successful lobbying by the Liquor Stores Association of WA (LSA WA).
In a win for LSA WA and independent packaged liquor stores, the State Government gazetted an entire years’ worth of dates in one hit, thereby providing certainty to small businesses and local communities, many of which rely on tourism trade over long-weekend holiday periods.
These dates include:
- 27 January 2019
- 3 March 2019
- 21 April 2019
- 2 June 2019
- 29 September 2019
- 15, 22 and 29 December 2019.
LSA WA CEO Peter Peck, said that this trading hours reform will give liquor retailers to ability to forward plan ahead of these busy holiday periods.
“Governments have previously dealt with each date separately and on a case by case basis – an approach which left liquor stores in limbo as to whether they could do business on certain dates,” said Peck.
“After a long and productive series of consultations with the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries the LSA WA is very pleased to announce that regional stores will have the opportunity once again to trade on the Sundays of long weekends listed above.
“This means that regional outlets now have certainty of these dates for the year upfront and will now be able to order stock, organise rosters and market in advance to their maximum benefit.
“While there are still several towns that, due to broader liquor restrictions, will need to apply for these days, overall it is a great outcome.”