Last week Newcastle City Council added to continuing uncertainty for employers regarding public holidays and penalty rates by agreeing to recommend to the NSW government a local public holiday on Friday 6 March 2015 for the Newcastle Show.
Although we all love a day off work to enjoy a late lunch at a suburban café, go to the club, or browse the shops, the issue for those businesses if they are in the Newcastle Local Government Area is that they are legally obliged to either close for the day, or pay penalty rates equivalent to those paid on important public holidays like Anzac Day or Easter, if they continue to trade.
The public holiday that may be declared for the opening day of next year’s Newcastle Show Day joins the following existing public holidays in the first few months of 2015: 1 January (New Year’s Day), 26 January (Australia Day), 3-6 April inclusive (Easter) and 25 April (Anzac Day).
There are many misconceptions in regard to the costs for business and it is important that the business community is heard. If you operate in the Newcastle Local Government Area this is a real and additional cost on you, whether you choose to open or close on that day.
Newcastle Council’s decision is made despite it recently signing the Small Business Friendly Council’s Charter with the Office of the NSW Small Business Commissioner and the NSW Business Chamber. Principles in the Charter include undertaking regular and targeted consultation with the small business sector and with leading business chambers on matters affecting small businesses.
Newcastle Council’s support of the additional public holiday is in contrast to Lake Macquarie City Council, which has has re-affirmed its commitment to business by sticking to the recommendation of a local event day.
The ultimate decision is now up to the NSW Minister for Industrial Relations (the Hon Andrew Constance MP) and if you feel strongly about this issue, it is important for you to put your views forward to both Newcastle City Council and the Minister.
As a local business and a member of the Hunter Business Chamber, we encourage other businesses to write to the Council and the Minister and advise how much this one day will cost your business and what impact this will have on you:
- Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes, City of Newcastle – mail@ncc.nsw.gov.au
- The Hon Andrew Constance, Treasurer and Minister for Industrial Relations – office@treasurer.nsw.gov.au
- Tell the Chamber your story – it values you and your business and they want to hear directly from you – info@hunterbusinesschamber.com.au
