Simon O’Brien, WA Small Business Minister, has reassured small businesses that they are protected from landlords looking to fine them if they do not open on public holidays.
O’Brien said suggestions were wrong that gaps existed under the Commercial Tenancy Act.
“Put simply, a landlord cannot make a tenant, under a retail shop lease, open certain hours and cannot charge a fine in relation to a requirement to open certain hours,” he said.
“I urge any small business retailers receiving such threats to immediately contact the Small Business Development Corporation’s (SBDC) specialist commercial tenancy advisory team.
His reassurance comes after opposition spokesman Tony O’Gorman claimed small businesses were receiving notifications that they would be fined if they did not open their stores on Boxing Day.