WA public holidays: Additional days creates an annual $115m hit for business according to CCIWA

Premier Roger Cook’s plan for two extra holidays a year in WA would result in a $115 million disaster for local businesses, according to the state’s peak business group. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA calculated that a proposed new public holiday on Easter Saturday would cost businesses $67.9 million a year in additional wage costs alone – with a new weekday holiday adding $47.55m to businesses’ annual wages bill. “It’s clear that WA businesses can’t afford another two days where they’re paying someone $65 an hour to wash dishes,” CCIWA acting co-chief executive Aaron Morey said. “The sad fact is that many small businesses in WA are doing it very tough at the moment. “Base wage costs have spiralled, along with virtually every other cost you can think of, and 10 per cent of businesses in the WA hospitality sector alone have closed their doors in the year to April.” The Tourism Council of WA and the Australian Hotels Association WA have also pushed back on the idea, warning of inflated costs. “A Saturday public holiday doesn’t give many Western Australians an additional day off, but it will cost them more to go out and travel over the long weekend,” Tourism Council chief executive Evan Hall said. Three-quarters of more than 200 tourism operators the council recently surveyed about the government’s proposed public holidays changes said they’d be forced to increase their rates to cover “inflated costs” on an Easter Saturday public holiday or simply close their doors. “WA tourism businesses would be reluctant to raise their rates but would have little choice, as an Easter Saturday public holiday would generate no additional revenue while staffing costs increased,” Mr Hall said. “Tourism Council WA estimated a family of four undertaking a day trip activity or event on an Easter Saturday public holiday would pay an additional $65, or an additional $204, for an Easter-long weekend trip.” As revealed by The Sunday Times, the Cook Government is considering increasing public holidays in WA from 11 to 13, bringing the State into line with Victoria, the Northern Territory and the ACT. Under the plan Easter Saturday would become a public holiday. The government is also canvassing support for an additional weekday public holiday. Other options the Government is presenting include permanently moving WA Day from June to November and changing the Labour Day and King’s Birthday public holiday dates to align with those in the Eastern States. Any changes to public to are proposed to come into effect in 2027 or 2028. While the CCIWA is opposed to an Easter Saturday public holiday — and a new weekday break — the Tourism Council supports the extra weekday, provided it was the day after WA Day, which the government wants shifted to November. But the Tourism Council has recommended an additional public holiday fall between August and September, outside of school holidays, to keep costs to families low. At the same time, it would keep favourable conditions to visit the State’s north and south, and attending events in Perth. “We have a cost of living crisis, now is not the time to increase school holiday costs on families,” Mr Hall said. “Tourism businesses do not want to be pushed into increasing school holiday costs for families.” He said should the State Government proceed with an additional public holiday, scheduling the additional public holiday the day after WA Day would create a four day super WA long weekend. “This option would provide most Western Australians with additional time off, and over a longer break, to celebrate WA,” Mr Hall said. “Importantly, this would provide a longer break to celebrate WA by visiting regional areas as well as activities in Perth. “Held outside school holidays, the WA super long weekend would also provide Western Australians with additional tourism, event and leisure opportunities at the time of lowest cost.” Meanwhile the AHA WA says there’s near unanimous disapproval for the Easter Saturday plan among the hospitality businesses it surveyed. “Public holidays are when the public expects us to be open,” chief executive Bradley Woods said. “But the cost of meeting that expectation is not shared equally across the economy.”