Government steps in to protect consumers against unscrupulous retailers, while store hours are stretched.

The Department of Consumer Protection cracked down on 40 Western Australia retailers who have allegedly maintained illegal 'no return, no refund' policies. Seven of the stores were discovered to be telling customers there was no right, or only a restricted right, to a refund.

The shops received a warning for now. A second offense will mete out a penalty. Under Consumer Protection law, customers are entitled to a refund when products they bought are faulty, wrongly described, or different to a sample.

In Adelaide, the Rundle Mall Management Authority begins its 7:00 p.m. close of trading next week. Many retailers will also be attracting shoppers every Friday as stores remain open until 9:00 p.m.

The extended trading hours, though, are expected to begin on Tuesday, the day after the public holiday. The changes in business hours is the first since shops were allowed to open on Sundays in 1994.

Mall Authority chairman Theo Maras said, “Our city is saved from being the doughnut of nothing after 5 or 5.30, which unfortunately we've been branded by other interstate and overseas cities.” A research showed tourist were disappointed with the city's early closing hours.