Business coalition oppose new Easter Sunday public holiday

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE

TASMANIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY – LAUNCESTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE – TASMANIAN SMALL BUSINESS COUNCIL – BUSINESS NORTH WEST – DEVONPORT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY – BUSINESS GREATER HOBART – CIVIL CONTRACTORS FEDERATION (TAS)

A group of Tasmanian business organisations has banded together to oppose the Labor Opposition’s attempts to legislate Easter Sunday as a public holiday.

“We are deeply concerned at the lack of evidence base or consultation with the business sector around this proposal”, TCCI Acting CEO Colleen Reardon said.

“Tasmanian businesses are being smashed by rising costs, including increased fuel costs as a result of the Iran War, the last thing they need is even more government-imposed costs.

“The job of the Opposition in the Parliament is to hold the Government to account, not to impose poorly thought through and consulted new costs and burdens onto Tasmanian businesses.”

Robert Mallett from the Tasmanian Small Business Council said that the bill would be particularly tough on small business.

 “Small businesses across Tasmania operate on razor-thin margins. An additional public holiday imposes genuine costs through increased penalty rates and reduced trading days. For businesses open on Easter Sunday, the decision becomes brutal: close and lose revenue entirely, or stay open and absorb double-time and half penalty rate costs many simply cannot afford”, Mr Mallett said.

 “The real casualty is the worker. If a business closes, employees earn nothing whatsoever. If it remains open, workers only benefit if their employer can sustain the financial burden. Our members report that tight margins mean many will simply shut their doors, leaving workers with zero income rather than overtime pay.”

Launceston Chamber of Commerce CEO Alina Bain said the proposal does not reflect current business conditions or the realities facing small businesses in the North.

“Fuel, freight, wages and compliance costs are all rising. Adding another public holiday over Easter increases costs at a time when businesses are working hard just to maintain margins.

“We already have Good Friday and Easter Monday, and for some, Easter Tuesday. That’s three public holidays in four days — and for many businesses, that simply isn’t sustainable.

“At that point, businesses won’t open - even across a peak tourism weekend.

“That means fewer hours for staff, less activity across our CBD and hospitality sector, and less revenue flowing through the economy.

“We call on the Parliament to reject this measure,” Ms Bain said.

ENDS.

 

Media Contacts:

• Colleen Reardon, COO, TCCI 6236 3600
• Robert Mallett, CEO TSBC 0408 144 844
• Alina Bain, CEO LCC 6331 9364