Australia Day: Parlamento restaurant closes to avoid penalty rates

    Meredith Booth, Michael Owen
    The Australian
    January 27, 2016


One of Adelaide’s top restaurants — popular with politicians, celebrities and tourists — has closed its doors for Australia Day cele­brations because of excessive penalty rates.   

This is despite North Terrace restaurant Parlamento being positioned opposite the Adelaide Casino, Parliament House, the Festival Centre and a short distance from the Adelaide Oval footbridge.

The more than 40,000 people attending an Australia Day concert and the Australia v India T20 cricket match at Adelaide Oval last night would have guaranteed the restaurant a full house.

But Parlamento co-owner Daniel Rattenni said take-home profit would have been only a “couple of hundred bucks” once dishwashers, baristas and kitchenhands were paid “professional” rates of at least $48 an hour excluding superannuation — more than double the standard hourly rate of $20 an hour.

“Even if we came out with a couple of hundred bucks (profit), what’s the point?” he said.   

“Waiters use it as an income to get them through uni, it’s not a profession so why are they being paid as professionals.”

Parlamento also will close its doors on the Adelaide Cup, Easter Monday, Queen’s Birthday and Labour Day holidays. Diners will be charged a $5 a head levy on Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Anzac Day to try to cover soaring wage bills, which have jumped by 250 per cent on public holidays.

Yesterday, on the restaurant’s front window, was a message to patrons that said: “Parlamento will be closed on Australia Day due to public holiday costs. Kitchenhand/baristas/dishwashers/waiters all on $48 per hour minimum, plus 9% super — on top. Nb ... ‘not complaining. just explaining’. Happy Australia Day.”

Mr Rattenni said he suspected that small restaurants that were open yesterday were either making a loss or paying their staff in cash.

South Australian Liberal opposition industrial relations spokesman Rob Lucas said many restaurants were passing on a surcharge to customers to stay open on public holidays but the option for many to close hurt South Australian workers.

“Given the struggles we’ve got in South Australia, anything like this is preventing employers from employing South Australians,’’ he said.

He said he was “waiting with bated breath” on the outcome of the Fair Work Commission case on Sunday penalty rates which would provide a clearer direction for small business in South ­Australia.

The Fair Work Commission is reviewing penalty rates in hospitality and retail awards as part of a legislated four-yearly review of modern awards.

Restaurant and Catering Australia said it hoped the review would lead to reform, as “more and more” restaurants refuse to trade on public holidays.

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So he chose not to open,,his right!!


END OF STORY   

Dsmithy70 wrote on Jan 29^th, 2016 at 12:25pm:


Exactly.

Yesterday, on the restaurant’s front window, was a message to patrons that said: “Parlamento will be closed on Australia Day due to public holiday costs. Kitchenhand/baristas/dishwashers/waiters all on $48 per hour minimum, plus 9% super — on top. Nb ... ‘not complaining. just explaining’. Happy Australia Day.”

What's wrong with “Parlamento will be closed on Australia Day” ?

Sounds like a cheap political stunt to me.

I wouldn't be surprised if he's a member of the Liberal Party.

Yes his right not to open, as he says the penalty rates are too much.  Yet he says on the other hand if he did open, he would have made a few hundred profit.  So once again, the case for penalty rates for people that work these hours is sound.      

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This guys choice really just as it was the choice of the owner of the cafe in Bermagui who had the sign out the front for Aus Day saying "yes, we're open for national dickhead day"

greggerypeccary wrote on Jan 29^th, 2016 at 12:46pm:


His choice his business so you know what don't matter what you think #@$%^$#   

bwood1946 wrote on Jan 29^th, 2016 at 12:31pm:



the left dont care if the owner drops dead from working just about every day of the years....as long as those who only work public holidays.. get their wack I agree with him why is someone worth $20 a hour one day and $48 an hour the next...serving coffee..

its their choice to work... they can say NO THANK YOU...