Christmas shoppers in Perth will have more time to browse this year. The Cook Labor Government has approved 40 additional trading hours for general retail shops across the metropolitan area, starting Saturday, 5 December 2026.
Holiday trading hours: What changes and when
Saturdays: Shops can open from 8 am to 6 pm instead of the usual 8 am to 5 pm.
Sundays and public holidays: Trading extends by four hours, from 8 am to 6 pm instead of 11 am to 5 pm.
Weekdays from Monday, 14 December to Christmas Eve: Larger retailers can open an hour earlier, trading from 7 am to 9 pm.
Christmas Day remains a closed day for general retail. Boxing Day (Saturday, 26 December) and Boxing Day (Monday, 28 December) both run from 8 am to 6 pm. Normal hours (8 am to 9 pm) resume on Tuesday, 29 December.
2027 public holidays: The extended hours also cover most public holidays next year. These include New Year’s Day, Australia Day, Labour Day, Easter Monday, ANZAC Day, WA Day, and the King’s Birthday. General retail shops in Perth and some regional areas can trade from 8 am to 6 pm on those days. Good Friday, Christmas Day and ANZAC Day itself stay closed.
Regional areas have their own extended-hours package. Check the Consumer Protection retail trading hours page for your location.
Commerce Minister Dr Tony Buti said the change gives consumers “more choice about how and when they shop” while supporting local retailers during one of their busiest periods.
Scam warning for the sales season
Longer hours come with a warning. WA ScamNet, part of the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety, reports that shopping scams have already cost Western Australians $442,060 in 2026. Of that, $131,511 was lost to fake online shopping sites and $310,549 through online marketplaces.
Losses are tracking close to last year’s level, but that is no reason to relax. In 2025, shopping scam losses almost doubled in the lead-up to Christmas, rising from $466,000 in October to $887,475 by the end of the year.
With Black Friday and Cyber Monday approaching, expect more of the following:
Fake websites and social media ads that impersonate trusted retailers to steal money and personal details.
Marketplace scams that advertise products that don’t exist, ask for payment outside secure platforms and vanish once the money moves.
Parcel delivery messages by text or email claiming a parcel can’t be delivered or needs an extra payment, then sending you to fake sites that harvest personal or banking details.
“Whether you’re shopping online, buying through a marketplace or tracking a delivery, it’s worth taking a moment to stop and check before clicking a link, making a payment or sharing personal information,” Buti said.
You can report scams and read the latest alerts on the WA ScamNet website.
