The Premier Alan Carpenter has bowed to minority groups by backing away from his earlier promise to bring the State's antiquated retail trading hours laws up to date.

The State's peak business organisation, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia, is disappointed that the Australian Labor Party is prepared to deny Western Australians greater choice, more convenience and lower prices in the retail sector.

The ALP proposes to add further rules and complications to an already unwieldy and confusing system.

Under Labor's plan, Western Australians will be granted only an extra 60 minutes on weeknights to shop.

On Sundays, only a handful of outer metropolitan centres will be added to the small number of places where Western Australians can buy a full range of retail goods.

This piecemeal approach is designed to appease two special interest groups;

1 - the ALP union which wants to deny Western Australians the right to choose where and when they shop on Sundays, and

2 - the commercial interests who have the right at present to open their doors on weeknights and Sundays, but want to deny it to others.

CCI's research shows that WA consumers want extended trading hours and that deregulation across the nation has seen better business for retailers and lower prices for customers.

With the Labor Party's policy letting down both business and consumers, CCI calls on the Liberal Party, which is yet to release its policy, to show leadership and deliver meaningful reform.

Statement by CCI Executive Director, Industry Policy, Trevor Lovelle