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.
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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.
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