VECCI statement on new public holidays in Victoria

ON grand final Friday, the cost to pay Victoria’s almost 2 million full time employees not to come to work could reach $543 million for the day.

Additional wages for the retail, accommodation, food services and recreation industries are estimated to cost small business owners $105 million for the two holidays as wages can be 50 per cent higher on Easter Sunday and 150 per cent higher on grand final eve.

The two new holidays widen the disparity between public holiday arrangements across Australia and will result in Victoria having a nationwide high of 13 days, compared to states like New South Wales with 11 and Queensland and Western Australia with 10.

Excerpts from Chief Executive Mark Stone’s press conference:

"It is a terrible decision that the government is continuing to go ahead with this plan," Mr Stone said.

"The government must do the right thing by Victorian businesses, do the right thing by people who are trying to employ more people and trying to create more jobs; and not take money away from them.

"I regularly meet with the relevant ministers, the Premier, the Treasurer, and I keep reinforcing that the view of business in Victoria is that this is the wrong call. They need to retract it. They’ll win a lot of support and business interest if they come back from this decision.

"What Victoria needs is more jobs and this plan is only going to set that back."

 The Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) is the most influential business organisation in Victoria, informing and servicing more than 15,000 members, customers and clients around the state.

vecci.org.au

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