Yahoo Finance New public holiday proposed for lucky 2 million Aussies
The Queensland government is proposing to make Christmas Eve a part-public holiday to compensate for lost penalty rates.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the plan on Sunday (4 August), describing it as a way to ensure workers who have to work on the evening of 24 December are properly compensated, and have the chance to enjoy one of the biggest nights of the festive season.
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“It would ensure workers have the right to have Christmas Eve off as a public holiday just as they do for Christmas Day,” she said.
“The night before Christmas is as important to families as the day itself.”
“It’s a very special time for family and friends as well as communities and churches to come together.”
“Many Queenslanders though, do have to work Christmas Eve and the change would ensure proper compensation for them,” Palaszczuk said.
The change would mean the average hospitality worker would score an extra $146 for working that evening.
“While some have no choice, others should have the right to say no to Christmas eve shifts with the full protection of the law.”
Responding today, however, industry groups have been critical.
CEO of the National Retail Association, Dominique Lamb said small businesses owners will suffer.
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"The retailers who will be hurt most by this are not large multi-nationals, but mum-and-dad small business owners who work ridiculous hours just to make ends meet," Lamb said.
The CEO also warned that small businesses may choose to pass on the wage increase to their consumers.
“Small business retailers are already struggling at present and all this will do is see their wage bill explode further during a time of year that already contains numerous public holidays.”
The chief executive of Australian Industry Group, Innes Willox echoed Lamb’s concerns.
She said the plan would only serve to make Queensland businesses less competitive with other states’ and international businesses.
"The government's reported argument that cafes will be able recoup the cost by charging a public holiday surcharge, fails to recognise that most of the businesses that will be impacted are not cafes,” she said.
“Also, many cafes and restaurants are struggling to survive and the imposition of unnecessary additional costs is not in anyone's interests,” Willox said.
The plan is currently open for community consultation for the next 27 days.
The Northern Territory considers Christmas Eve - from 7pm until midnight - to be a public holiday, as does South Australia.
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