Basil Zempilas says any suggestion Perth has been quiet in the lead up to Christmas is ‘flat out wrong’

Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas says any suggestion that Perth has been quiet in the lead-up to Christmas is “flat out wrong”. Responding to a photograph of an empty Forrest Place this week, Mr Zempilas, who is also the Liberal candidate for Churchlands, said the image was not reflective of the activity seen in the CBD and Northbridge. “Forrest place at midday during summer, you’re kidding aren’t you? Of course a paved city square is empty, it’s stinking hot,” Mr Zempilas said. “But the suggestion the City is quiet this December is flat out wrong.” The Lord Mayor’s comments come after Council of Small Business Organisations Organisations Australia chief executive Luke Achterstratt said people were taking leave early — many heading out of the city — after a difficult year with cost-of-living pressures. But Mr Zempilas said data from November — which is the most recent month for which numbers are available — showed the heart of Perth was pumping. The City’s Pathzz software found foot traffic was up 15 per cent in the Murray Street Mall compared to November 2023. And foot traffic in Hay Street Mall was up 5.9 per cent. Spending in the two areas was up to $329 million, compared to $290 million in the same month a year prior. “Twilights and evenings are cranking and day time numbers have also been very solid,” the Lord Mayor said. “Our Christmas Lights trail, Twilight Food Market, the Christmas Pageant and Festive Night shows at Elizabeth Quay are all reporting record or decade-high crowds.” Mr Zempilas said the City could be even busier with expanded trading hours — something the Cook Government and the powerful Shop Distributive & Allied Employees Association opposes. “It does highlight the lunacy of our archaic trading hours, Saturday night is the second busiest night in the City — and the State Government won’t let the shops open (past 5pm),” he said. “You can’t air-condition malls or city squares, so of course it’s going to look a little quieter on hot summer days, but even despite this cost of living crisis, the shops aren’t quiet.” Mr Zempilas said for 23 of the last 24 months in the City, total customer spend had exceeded the same months in 2023. “We’ve enjoyed a resurgent two years in the CBD and I’m very proud of how far the City of Perth has come,” he said.