A move to extend Sunday trading by two hours has been supported by Kalgoorlie council, paving the way for retailers in the Goldfields city to stay open for longer.

Earlier this week, local councillors voted in favour of a motion to allow retailers to be open from 8am to 3pm Sundays and public holidays, two hours longer than is currently allowed.

The motion was amended from an original version that proposed that trading be extended from 7am to 6pm, The Kalgoorlie Miner reports.

Cr Laurie Ayers signalled the possibility of allowing businesses to open for longer than proposed, through advocating a staged approach.

“A stepping stone approach is best,” he says.

“We live in a highly regulated world and we are in a potentially one in 100 year situation – disruption has been caused in so many ways.”
Council is expected to revisit the issue within the next six to 12 months.

Kalgoorlie Council recently held a survey, with 44 per cent of 719 respondents in favour of extended Sunday trading, 18 per cent opposed and 32 per cent called for 24-hour trading.