New Queensland public holiday could be three times more expensive: industry body

September 3, 2019
Brisbane Times
   

A new Queensland public holiday could be three times more expensive than first estimated, an industry group has argued.   

Last month it was revealed the state government wanted to make Christmas Eve a public holiday from 6pm until midnight, with plans to introduce the holiday in 2019.


A 28-day consultation process on a proposed part-day public holiday on Christmas Eve has now closed.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said it would mean workers would get properly compensated – receiving penalty rates of up to 250 per cent of normal wages – or enjoy the night off.

"The night before Christmas is as important to families as the day itself," she said.


"It's a very special time for family and friends as well as communities and churches to come together."   :)

Documents released as part of the consultation process estimated extra wages could cost Queensland industry between $41.3 million and $136.9 million, using a calculation based on the number of employees who worked on Christmas Day in 2011.

However, employer association Ai Group urged the government to abandon its plans and suggested the cost could be three times higher.

Ai Group argued the number of people working on Christmas Eve – one of the busiest trading days of the year for many retailers and hospitality businesses – was more likely to be similar to Boxing Day or a previous additional Christmas Day public holiday.

"This implies a total cost range in the order of $123.9 million to $410.7 million in employment costs alone, not including the cost to businesses that choose to close instead," Ai Group chief executive Innes Willox said.

"Taking from business to pay for politically popular measures is both costly and unfair and amounts to robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Related Article
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the changes would allow workers to have the night of Christmas Eve off or be properly compensated.   :)


"The government's reported argument that cafes will be able to recoup the cost by charging customers a public-holiday surcharge fails to recognise that most of the businesses that will be impacted are not cafes and most impacted businesses will be unable to recoup the cost through a surcharge."

Mr Willox said many businesses in manufacturing, health, transport, aviation, emergency services, energy, IT, maintenance services, telecommunications and accommodation needed to be open for 24 hours seven days a week.

In a submission to the government, Ai Group argued introducing the public holiday this year would give businesses little opportunity to budget for extra costs.

However, the Queensland branch of the Rail Tram and Bus Union said most of its members were in favour of a new part-day Christmas Eve public holiday.

"The benefits are the improvements in mental health for those who wish to be with their families; economic benefits in the form of more people spending more money around Christmas; recognition of multicultural Queensland where a large number of people have traditions that take place on Christmas Eve," the RTBU's submission said.

"We expect that it will pay for itself in the increase in spending and increase in happiness within the workforce."

Islamic Council of Queensland president Habib Jamal supported the proposal, which he said would allow people to take part in religious services on Christmas Eve and travel ahead of family events on December 25.

"Financial and economic priorities have their place in society but should never be given precedence over opportunities to spend more time with family and community," he said.

Both South Australia and the Northern Territory recognise Christmas Eve as a part-day public holiday from 7pm.   :)

Queensland has 12 public holidays in 2019.

To me it looks as simple as a grab for greater overtime in the guise of making Xmas Eve a holiday.

Many businesses already have an informal half-holiday on Christmas Eve. Work stops at lunch and then there's a Christmas party or something like that. Workers can leave early to do their last-minute shopping.

I'm not sure about making it a formal holiday, however.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the changes would allow workers to have the night of Christmas Eve off or be properly compensated.   :)

But for the Lefties everyday is a holiday.

According to most libs, no worker (whoops, slaves) should have any holidays.

Quote:

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the changes would allow workers to have the night of Christmas Eve off or be properly compensated.

Exactly. not possible to argue or disagree with the obvious.

juliar wrote on Sep 29^th, 2019 at 6:20pm:

But for the Lefties everyday is a holiday.

Says the guy supporting the Management just off for a round of golf most fridays, only a 2 hour lunch when they occasionally need to get back to work early.

Your comment is as dumb as dumb can get. Dumb as dumb can get.   

Of course, not for Jews, Muslims , Hindus, Bhuddists ,Taoists ot Atheists. In other words, half the country.

Dnarever wrote on Sep 29^th, 2019 at 7:54pm:

juliar wrote on Sep 29th, 2019 at 6:20pm: But for the Lefties everyday is a holiday. Says the guy supporting the Management just off for a round of golf most fridays, only a 2 hour lunch when they occasionally need to get back to work early. Your comment is as dumb as dumb can get. Dumb as dumb can get.

No, no,no. Liar can be a lot dumber than that. ;D ;D ;D ;D

The Lefties are annoyed to have their holiday disturbed.

This is just another vicious attack by the Socialists on Small Business.

Wouldn't a holiday on XMAS EVE confuse Santa Claus ?

Bam wrote on Sep 29^th, 2019 at 3:13pm:

Many businesses already have an informal half-holiday on Christmas Eve. Work stops at lunch and then there's a Christmas party or something like that. Workers can leave early to do their last-minute shopping. I'm not sure about making it a formal holiday, however.

I agree.

Prime Minister for Canyons wrote on Oct 2^nd, 2019 at 10:30am:

Bam wrote on Sep 29th, 2019 at 3:13pm: Many businesses already have an informal half-holiday on Christmas Eve. Work stops at lunch and then there's a Christmas party or something like that. Workers can leave early to do their last-minute shopping. I'm not sure about making it a formal holiday, however. I agree.

Don't make it a public holiday, but use the rostering principles for a public holiday.

i.e.  workers have the right to reasonably refuse to work on that day.

greggerypeccary wrote on Oct 2^nd, 2019 at 10:36am:

Prime Minister for Canyons wrote on Oct 2nd, 2019 at 10:30am: Bam wrote on Sep 29th, 2019 at 3:13pm: Many businesses already have an informal half-holiday on Christmas Eve. Work stops at lunch and then there's a Christmas party or something like that. Workers can leave early to do their last-minute shopping. I'm not sure about making it a formal holiday, however. I agree. Don't make it a public holiday, but use the rostering principles for a public holiday. i.e.  workers have the right to reasonably refuse to work on that day.

If I go off my work, one campus has it as a public holiday to make up for lack of public holidays compared to other states. And its very informal, i.e. everyone just leaves at midday

Prime Minister for Canyons wrote on Oct 2^nd, 2019 at 10:37am:

greggerypeccary wrote on Oct 2nd, 2019 at 10:36am: Prime Minister for Canyons wrote on Oct 2nd, 2019 at 10:30am: Bam wrote on Sep 29th, 2019 at 3:13pm: Many businesses already have an informal half-holiday on Christmas Eve. Work stops at lunch and then there's a Christmas party or something like that. Workers can leave early to do their last-minute shopping. I'm not sure about making it a formal holiday, however. I agree. Don't make it a public holiday, but use the rostering principles for a public holiday. i.e.  workers have the right to reasonably refuse to work on that day. If I go off my work, one campus has it as a public holiday to make up for lack of public holidays compared to other states. And its very informal, i.e. everyone just leaves at midday

Lots of workplaces don't have that luxury though.

Retail workers, for example.

Workers like those should be able to take the day off as annual leave, or TOIL, if they want.

At the moment, most retail employers don't give their employees that option.

In fact, many of them tell their staff that they can't have any leave in December at all.

Then for Gweggy every day is a holiday. Is Gweggy on Newstart ?

So should Australia Day ..... get on it or get off ..... we need a huge march down the main street of every town to mark the day Taranullius went to war over their state's rights....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVeSKwM--1M

https://youtu.be/kW8S0A--2CM?list=RDUVeSKwM--1M

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way, Santa Claus is on his way.

Are the penalty rates on their way as well?.   :(

Of course as penalty rates are the evil unions and the Chinese Labor Party's plot to eradicate ALL Small Business because it doesn't hire unionists.

What a load of rubbish.  People that work weekends and public holidays should get the penalty rates.   :(

Silly old waste of space BlackDay just cannot handle the TRUTH. He prefers to mindlessly parrot lying union and GetUp! propaganda without understanding a word of it as that saves having to think which would be just too hard for a Lefty.

It seems like if juliar had his way ( and thank heavens he doesn't ), people wouldn't get any penalty rates.   :o   :( 

Silly old waste of space BlackDay should keep to parroting lying union/GetUp! propaganda because every time he opens his north and south he makes himself look silly. Classic mindless Lefty brainwashed by GetUp! lying propaganda.

juliar wrote on Sep 30^th, 2019 at 10:18am:

The Lefties are annoyed to have their holiday disturbed. This is just another vicious attack by the Socialists on Small Business.

Most small business is closed on christmas eve - in fact closed on most eve's.

Nothing wrong with paying a premium hourly rate for premium hours.


Quote:

Ai Group argued the number of people working on Christmas Eve – one of the busiest trading days of the year

This is Ai Groups dumb argument to not pay extra for the day by saying the businesses are going to make an absolute killing on the day ?

Well if the people working for you are going to make you a huge profit why not pay them the true value of their labour.

To be honest I have walked around a large shopping centre late on xmas eve and can tell you the place was empty.

DNA has been around Australia checking on ALL the small businesses has he or is he just posting bulldust ?

juliar wrote on Oct 3^rd, 2019 at 8:47pm:

DNA has been around Australia checking on ALL the small businesses has he or is he just posting bulldust ?

Julia believes that the little corner shop in Cooladdi is open late on christmas eve ?

Hairdressers ? Docrtors surgery ? Local Vet ? Mechanic ? Dog Groomer ? carpet Layer ? Lawn Mowing business ? Courier? Sandwich shop? painter? printer? the list of small business not working christmas eve is very extensive.

No bud not bulldust just an obvious fact.

DNA is annoyed that he has been sprung posting porkies.

Juliar from greed incorporated and the big end of town.  If he had his way no one would ever get any penalty rates.   :(

whiteknight wrote on Oct 4^th, 2019 at 1:12pm:

Juliar from greed incorporated and the big end of town.  If he had his way no one would ever get any penalty rates.   :(

Or get paid anything.

The Lefties are full of XMAS Cheer.

juliar wrote on Oct 4^th, 2019 at 10:08am:

DNA is annoyed that he has been sprung posting porkies.

You come out swinging just as hard after you are proven wrong and know it. On the odd occasion when I am wrong I am embarrassed by it but not you.