Grand Final Eve Public Holiday confirmed

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,499]

It's a well known strategy that organisations with bad news choose to release it on a day where bigger news will overtake it.

The Victorian Government has today confirmed that the Friday before the Grand Final will be a public holiday. Am I being cynical or was it announced today because the Government realises it's a dumb idea and wants to bury it under the Hird resignation and the expected announcement by the AFL of a mega-TV rights deal later today?

Of course, not everyone will think having another public holiday is a bad idea.

[binman 38,797]

Of course, not everyone will think having another public holiday is a bad idea.

Me being one

[Mazer Rackham 14,970]

Bad idea.

[FireOath 290]

I don't see W.A. doing the same.

[jnrmac 19,203]

They have just killed the GF parade....

(And its a payback to the unions that got Andrews voted in)

[Pates 9,537]

It will be the ultimate irony if the first GF eve public holiday occurred with two non Victorian teams in the GF.

Personally I don't see the need for it, I will be working that day at double time so I guess I shouldn't complain!

[biggestred 4,357]

Stupid idea.

Monday of melb cup weekend much better idea.

[ChaserJ 3,972]

Does this make up for losing Show Day?

[DistrACTION Jackson 6,496]

Means my bender can start early!

[Redbeard 497]

I'd much prefer it on the Mad Monday than the Friday

[MadAsHell 4,088]

They have just killed the GF parade....

(And its a payback to the unions that got Andrews voted in)

Is this based on anything?

Or just an assumption based on speculation?

[Gator 16,906]

It's a moronic idea that costs business a fortune and punishes casual workers. But what would one expect from Labor ?

[MadAsHell 4,088]

It's a moronic idea that costs business a fortune and punishes casual workers. But what would one expect from Labor ?

And being a public holiday, businesses don't have to operate if they choose not to.

[binman 38,797]

It's a moronic idea that costs business a fortune and punishes casual workers. But what would one expect from Labor ?

That's (I assume unintentionally) funny. Because single term liberal governments just make so many smart decisions

[Gator 16,906]

That's (I assume unintentionally) funny. Because single term liberal governments just make so many smart decisions

Hopeless too.

[mo64 5,230]

And being a public holiday, businesses don't have to operate if they choose not to.

Which is why it's bad for casual workers. The business that I work at will be open, but run by the owner because he can't afford the staff penalty rates. Unbeknownst to Andrews, small business owners also have families, and require family time.

It will also ruin Grand Final Eve functions. A mate of mine has organised a charity function for the past 15 years, but will have to change the date to the Thursday because of the penalty rates. Everyone I know who attends will be unable to do so because they can't afford to take the Thursday off.

It's the must non-sensical public holiday ever thought off.

[binman 38,797]

Hopeless too.

On that we can agree

[DemonOX 8,541]

Lucky for those who get it.

[Willmoy1947 3,808]

Blame Hird!!!! (Him and his "club" are full of Libs)

Not Watts this time....

[deanox 8,721]

I have no problem with an extra public holiday in the second half of the year. From Easter to Christmas there are only 2 (melbourne cup and queens birthday) so an extra one gives people a break. And it is in school holidays which is important for families.

Anyone who is saying that it will "cost" too much is focusing on that particular weeks balance sheet or just the cost and not the bigger picture. An extra public holiday reduces staff output by 0.4% for the year, or assuming double time would increase wage costs by that much. Assuming staff costs are half your product cost then you are only looking at 0.2% increase in your product price.

Will it impact this year? Maybe. But when you do your business planning and assessment you factor these things into your cost and pass them on to customers. Standard annual wage increases would impact more than this. All Victorian business is on the sane boat so it had minimal impact in competitiveness in most industries.

If you run a small business in hospitality change a 20% public holiday surcharge. People will still pay it.

I'm not sure I like grand final Friday though. It is set up to fail. If the parade flops it will be front and center on the news. I would have picked another day in those school holidays and found another reason to justify it.

[markc 975]

sadly when you consider how many people don't follow afl or even care about it , its a joke of a holiday and if we have a change of government it will be removed

, well so they say . You can never be sure what is promised will happen with any of them

But Victorian state opposition leader Matthew Guy said it wouldn’t last long if the coalition was elected.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl

As a small business owner , to just say pass it onto our customers, its hard enough as it is without having to keep increasing prices

People are fickle and will change shops and places to save a Dollar , I know myself I won't pay the 20% or whatever surcharge as suggested i will go elsewhere that doesn't have it or not bother at all

[RalphiusMaximus 5,993]

They have just killed the GF parade....

How? More people will be free to go along and enjoy it. More people on the streets of Melbourne is better for the small businesses in the area who supply food and such as they will get more customers. I think the parade will be fine.

[MadAsHell 4,088]

I have no problem with an extra public holiday in the second half of the year. From Easter to Christmas there are only 2 (melbourne cup and queens birthday) so an extra one gives people a break. And it is in school holidays which is important for families.

Anyone who is saying that it will "cost" too much is focusing on that particular weeks balance sheet or just the cost and not the bigger picture. An extra public holiday reduces staff output by 0.4% for the year, or assuming double time would increase wage costs by that much. Assuming staff costs are half your product cost then you are only looking at 0.2% increase in your product price.

Will it impact this year? Maybe. But when you do your business planning and assessment you factor these things into your cost and pass them on to customers. Standard annual wage increases would impact more than this. All Victorian business is on the sane boat so it had minimal impact in competitiveness in most industries.

If you run a small business in hospitality change a 20% public holiday surcharge. People will still pay it.

I'm not sure I like grand final Friday though. It is set up to fail. If the parade flops it will be front and center on the news. I would have picked another day in those school holidays and found another reason to justify it.

And given Andrews said last year while in opposition that they would be bringing this holiday in, business owners had the chance to factor it in this year already.

sadly when you consider how many people don't follow afl or even care about it , its a joke of a holiday and if we have a change of government it will be removed

, well so they say . You can never be sure what is promised will happen with any of them

But Victorian state opposition leader Matthew Guy said it wouldn’t last long if the coalition was elected.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl

As a small business owner , to just say pass it onto our customers, its hard enough as it is without having to keep increasing prices

People are fickle and will change shops and places to save a Dollar , I know myself I won't pay the 20% or whatever surcharge as suggested i will go elsewhere that doesn't have it or not bother at all

Liberal Party (federal & state) are poison in Victoria at the moment, not helped by our lack of federal funding for infrastructure and the state libs signing a guarantee to east west link group while in care taker mode, i imagine it will be in for awhile yet.

[DSP 1,488]

I was in the city last year with the misses on grand final eve and the atmosphere was fantastic. Fed square and the parade were full of families. Plenty of stuff to do.

Im all for it.

[SaberFang 7,141]

Holy hell what a braindead idea.

Is it too much to ask to have ONE competent government in this country?