By CASEY NEILL
BUSINESSES are calling for this year’s Grand Final Eve public holiday to be a one-off holiday.
Victorian Employers’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) chief executive Mark Stone said it could cost $543 million to pay Victoria’s almost 2 million full-time employees to stay home.
“This waste strikes at the heart of efforts to improve the competitiveness of Victorian business and grow jobs,” he said.
“I’ve spoken to many owners of businesses of all sizes … and to date no-one feels this holiday is a good idea.
“Businesses throughout Victoria have contacted VECCI asking us to see if we can have this decision retracted.
“We’ll continue to campaign on their behalf to see these holidays are not repeated in years to come.”
The push followed Dandenong Retail Traders Association (DRTA) chairwoman Glenys Cooper telling the Journal that the holiday would put strain on small businesses.
“Some businesses might decide that it’s not worth opening,” she said.
Greater Dandenong councillor Peter Brown said the “economic impacts on Greater Dandenong businesses are unaffordable and unjustified”.
