Premiers cool on PM’s holiday plan

Original article by Andrew Tillett
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 16-Aug-23

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has emphasised that state and territory leaders will ultimately decide whether to declare a public holiday if the Matildas win the FIFA Women’s World Cup. However, South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has indicated that he will oppose a public holiday when the national cabinet meets in Brisbane on Wednesday. He estimates that a holiday would cost the state’s economy about $18m; his government will instead provide a "lasting legacy" by investing the same amount of money into women’s sporting facilities.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, SOUTH AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, FEDERATION INTERNATIONALE DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION, MATILDAS

Push for Cup public holiday alarms business

Original article by David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 9-Aug-23

Australian Industry Group CEO Innes Willox is among the business leaders who have expressed concern about a proposal for a public holiday if the Matildas win the FIFA Women’s World Cup. He says businesses will face additional costs at a time when the economy is already under pressure. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese intends to raise the issue of a public holiday at the national cabinet meeting next week, and is confident that state and territory leaders will support the proposal. The World Cup final will be held in Sydney on 20 August.

CORPORATES
FEDERATION INTERNATIONALE DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION, MATILDAS, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Top CEOs to work on Australia Day

Original article by Hannah Wootton, Lucas Baird
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 2 : 25-Jan-23

Telstra, Woodside Energy and Canva are among the Australian companies that will allow employees to work on Australia Day and have another day off in lieu. A number of CEOs at major Australian companies have advised that they intend to work on 26 January. They include Telstra CEO Vicki Brady, who says that doing so feels right to her; however, she acknowledges that the choice people make regarding how they spend Australia Day is a personal one. National Australia Bank CEO Ross McEwan will also be working on Thursday, as will REA Group CEO Owen Wilson.

CORPORATES
TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, WOODSIDE ENERGY GROUP LIMITED – ASX WDS, CANVA INCORPORATED, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, REA GROUP LIMITED – ASX REA

Restaurant closes to avoid holiday costs

Original article by Meredith Booth, Michael Owen
The Australian – Page: 5 : 27-Jan-16

Kitchen staff at Adelaide restaurant Parlamento are paid $A20 an hour on normal weekdays. However, the restaurant elected not to open on the 2016 Australia Day public holiday as penalty rates would have increased wages to $A48 an hour. Co-owner Daniel Rattenni says any profits made on the day would have been so small as to not be worth it. Rob Lucas, the South Australian Opposition’s industrial relations spokesman, notes that penalty rates are deterring businesses from hiring staff.

CORPORATES
PARLAMENTO, LIBERAL PARTY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, RESTAURANT AND CATERING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED

Mixed bag for Easter retailers

Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 7-Apr-15

Australian Retailers Association executive director Russell Zimmerman notes that some retailers in Sydney chose to trade on 6 April 2015, despite the public holiday. Restaurateur Mark Scanlan opened one of his three Sydney restaurants on Easter Monday. He has described penalty rates for working on public holidays as "prohibitive", and has called for workplace law reform

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN RETAILERS ASSOCIATION, GARFISH, SHOP, DISTRIBUTIVE AND ALLIED EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATION, RESTAURANT AND CATERING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED