More than 15 years ago, trading hours on the other side of the country were deregulated but the WA government still enforces limited trading hours on weekends, unless you are a business that pays for an exemption.

You might find big retailers such as Bunnings or Dan Murphy’s open for business outside of the regulated hours, or businesses that operate on Commonwealth ground at the airport.

But for most retailers across the state they have to shut their doors by 5pm on Saturday and cannot open until after 11am on Sunday.

For years it has been a frustrating experience, not only for retailers who would like to open, but for shoppers as well.

Mr Zempilas said the regulations made no sense, particularly after the city experienced a record breaking increase of 11.7 per cent in spending to $331m for the first quarter of this year.

“It is absolutely ridiculous the shops in the City of Perth have to shut at 5pm on a Saturday and can’t open before 11am on a Sunday,” he wrote on Twitter.

“Our record March spend data in the city and record first quarter for 2024 highlight what lunacy this is.

“Come on Premier — get with the program! It’s Perth 2024, not Kwinana 1984.”

Premier Roger Cook said big business loved deregulated trading hours and they were the ones that ultimately succeeded.

“My government backs small businesses and small retailers,” he said.

However, Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA chief economist Aaron Morey said he supported expanded retail trading hours in WA, and a trial in the Perth CBD would be a logical place to start.

“WA’s restrictive retail trading regime is not fit for purpose when consumers have more choice than ever about where to buy the things they need,” he said.

“You only need to go to a shopping centre at 10.50am on a Sunday and look at the people waiting for the doors to open to know the demand is there.

“Allowing bricks and mortar retailers to open earlier on a Sunday would not only support those retailers, but all of the smaller businesses like cafes and newsagents who rely on foot traffic from the large anchor tenants.

“There would be significant flow-ons to the economy through job creation.

“Young workers and people who need flexibility would benefit from the additional weekend work hours available to them.”

Mr Zempilas was recently endorsed as the Liberal candidate for Churchlands at the party’s state council meeting.