The Federal Government has waded into the WA shopping hours debate, saying Premier Mark McGowan’s Christmas trading restrictions will rob workers of $350.

Canberra’s intervention came as the State Government fobbed off suggestions its change would dampen tourism, saying it was easier to shop in Perth than in Paris.

Federal Small and Family Business Minister Michaelia Cash said small retailers depended on the extra trading hours during Christmas to make up their yearly take. Their workers needed the extra cash.

“This decision by the Labor McGowan Government will mean many small businesses will also be worse off due to these restricted trading hours and some retail workers will be at least $350 worse off from last year,” she said.

The Government has cut additional Christmas shopping hours from 49 to 34 this year by postponing 7am weekday trading until December 17.

Co-founder of fashion label Morrison, Kylie Radford, said businesses needed “flexibility and more support rather than restrictions”.

“Christmas is definitely not the time to be tightening or controlling trading hours,” she said. “Our casual employees relish Christmas hours, every-one needs extra money around this time.”

Australian Retailers Association executive director Russell Zimmerman said bricks-and-mortar shops would clearly lose trade to websites which were often based overseas.

Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA chief executive Chris Rodwell underscored the importance of retail to jobs.

“Retail trade has been flat in WA for three years and the State’s underemployment and youth unemployment remain a serious concern, with 143,000 underemployed people wanting to work more hours and 29,300 unemployed young people looking for work right now,” he said.

WA Commerce Minister Bill Johnston said he expected consumers to “favourably respond” to the new hours.

“There are regulated trading environments in many parts of Australia, including Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania,” he said.

“We have more trading hours in Perth’s CBD than they do in Paris, the world’s No.1 tourist destination.”