Yeah it is. The CBD will be empty.

I doubt that very much. Weather permitting of course.

Yeah it is. The CBD will be empty.

not if 30-40,000 interstate visitors roll in it won't be

We are the only country/state in the world that has a holiday for a horse race. We take a long weekend so we can watch the Dees against the filth on a Monday ------- or go to the snow, to celebrate a Queen's birthday, which is not even her birthday, in which case WA celebrate the same Monarch's birthday at a different time of the year. The old Show Day Holiday was taken away, which was in place for the benefit of Victorian farmers originally. Go figure, we can have a day off for a Queen, but we can't have a day off, leading into one of the best and most spectacular sporting days on the calendar. To be honest, in Australia, the "Queen's" Birthday is an absolute anachronism.

The opponents of this are using it to make their protest against penalty rates in general, particularly in the hospitality industry. That is a different debate all together. One public holiday is not going to make any real difference in that regard.

i seem to remember show day and cup day were "officially" half day holidays

some companies nominated 1 only as an all day holiday

some companies had 2 half day holidays

at least that is my memory

i seem to remember show day and cup day were "officially" half day holidays

some companies nominated 1 only as an all day holiday

some companies had 2 half day holidays

at least that is my memory

I remember having the whole of Show Day Thursday off and heading out to Caulfield races. Ahh, how good were the Underwood and Rupert Clarke Stakes. I think from my distant memory, the time honoured Marlboro Cup was run on the same day - of course you wouldn't get away with naming a horse race after a packet of coffin sticks these days. Then of course, you would "flex" a day off on the Monday before the Cup to have a 4 day weekend. Ya just gotta love 'strayia.

EDIT: The Marlboro Cup actually became the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes. - The memory is shot.

I remember having the whole of Show Day Thursday off and heading out to Caulfield races. Ahh, how good were the Underwood and Rupert Clarke Stakes. I think from my distant memory, the time honoured Marlboro Cup was run on the same day - of course you wouldn't get away with naming a horse race after a packet of coffin sticks these days. Then of course, you would "flex" a day off on the Monday before the Cup to have a 4 day weekend. Ya just gotta love 'strayia.

Good old show day holiday and the time honoured Marlboro Cup. Every time I saw the words Marlboro Cup, I would run out and buy myself a carton of them. Thank goodness they've put a stop to that nonsense now. I always preferred the ones that 8 out of 10 doctors recommended anyway. What were they called???

Good old show day holiday and the time honoured Marlboro Cup. Every time I saw the words Marlboro Cup, I would run out and buy myself a carton of them. Thank goodness they've put a stop to that nonsense now. I always preferred the ones that 8 out of 10 doctors recommended anyway. What were they called???

Would you believe Camels?????!!!!!

Would you believe Camels?????!!!!!

Bahahaha what a classic

That is right up there with Fred & Barney flogging Winston Cigarettes

Don Draper Advertising!!

The Grand Final holiday and the Easter Sunday holiday combo is one of the most costly imposts on businesses since Federation. A disaster for the hospitality industry, the construction industry and most small businesses. A Grand Final Parade to the MCG instead of down Swanston Street, empty of office workers, will be a farce. But there is one guarantee and that there will be no CFMEU members watching it as they enjoy their four day weekend culminating in a Monday RDO. Maybe the West Australians will extend their visit to Melbourne by a day to watch the Parade but somehow I doubt it!

The Grand Final holiday and the Easter Sunday holiday combo is one of the most costly imposts on businesses since Federation. A disaster for the hospitality industry, the construction industry and most small businesses. A Grand Final Parade to the MCG instead of down Swanston Street, empty of office workers, will be a farce. But there is one guarantee and that there will be no CFMEU members watching it as they enjoy their four day weekend culminating in a Monday RDO. Maybe the West Australians will extend their visit to Melbourne by a day to watch the Parade but somehow I doubt it!

Oh but the employers can pay. Profits are high. LOL

Socialists are good at spending other people's money until there is none of it left and all the business and jobs in Australia have been sold offshore.

The CBD will be dead. And the GF parade will be as well.

The Grand Final holiday and the Easter Sunday holiday combo is one of the most costly imposts on businesses since Federation. A disaster for the hospitality industry, the construction industry and most small businesses. A Grand Final Parade to the MCG instead of down Swanston Street, empty of office workers, will be a farce. But there is one guarantee and that there will be no CFMEU members watching it as they enjoy their four day weekend culminating in a Monday RDO. Maybe the West Australians will extend their visit to Melbourne by a day to watch the Parade but somehow I doubt it!

As other shave said their may be 30-50K WA supporters in town. They all aren't getting a flight over sat morning. They will start arriving early in the week and most will be in melb by Fri

So as I said earlier, if the argument is about penalty rates in general, then let's have that debate, but to suggest one day is going to nobble the economy does not stand up to scrutiny by any measure. Like I said, if you are going to have this debate, let's be even handed about it. Why not flick the anachronistic Queen's Birthday and quaint Melbourne Cup holidays. What do these cost employers?

Does everyone on here own a small business or something?

FMD I'd love a public holiday off.

So as I said earlier, if the argument is about penalty rates in general, then let's have that debate, but to suggest one day is going to nobble the economy does not stand up to scrutiny by any measure. Like I said, if you are going to have this debate, let's be even handed about it. Why not flick the anachronistic Queen's Birthday and quaint Melbourne Cup holidays. What do these cost employers?

Careful. Getting rid of the QB holiday opens a new can of worms for the MFC. Having said that, I would have thought is just a question of time before the QB holiday disappears. It's important that the Melbourne FC develop a new blockbuster opportunity to be ready to replace the QB game. Personally, I would have thought something that links our Field of Women concept with our Women's team might be the way to go.

So as I said earlier, if the argument is about penalty rates in general, then let's have that debate, but to suggest one day is going to nobble the economy does not stand up to scrutiny by any measure. Like I said, if you are going to have this debate, let's be even handed about it. Why not flick the anachronistic Queen's Birthday and quaint Melbourne Cup holidays. What do these cost employers?

We are not talking about one day actually but also about Easter Sunday as well. The General Public derives not benefit from the Easter Sunday holiday (which is only about penalty rates rather than an extra 'holiday') and nearly everybody loses as so many pubs and coffee shops close depriving the man-on-the-street of some where to get a drink and the workers are laid off for four days, loosing their usual penalty rates. My local is shutting next Friday as they cannot afford to pay the penalty rates so I have nowhere to drink with my usual mates. As regards flicking the Queen's Birthday and Cup Day at least they have a focus and are established celebrations for Victorians. What do we get out of Andrews two holidays? They are a complete farce!

We are not talking about one day actually but also about Easter Sunday as well. The General Public derives not benefit from the Easter Sunday holiday (which is only about penalty rates rather than an extra 'holiday') and nearly everybody loses as so many pubs and coffee shops close depriving the man-on-the-street of some where to get a drink and the workers are laid off for four days, loosing their usual penalty rates. My local is shutting next Friday as they cannot afford to pay the penalty rates so I have nowhere to drink with my usual mates. As regards flicking the Queen's Birthday and Cup Day at least they have a focus and are established celebrations for Victorians. What do we get out of Andrews two holidays? They are a complete farce!

That's your opinion

If anyone is silly enough to complain about Easter Sunday public holiday then they surely should just shut their doors and miss out on business.

Until about 5 years ago Easter Sunday was a "no trade" day. That meant no employee had to work it.

When they allowed trading, they didn't also make it a public holiday. How ridiculous is that?

If anyone is silly enough to complain about Easter Sunday public holiday then they surely should just shut their doors and miss out on business.

Until about 5 years ago Easter Sunday was a "no trade" day. That meant no employee had to work it.

When they allowed trading, they didn't also make it a public holiday. How ridiculous is that?

That's not entirely true. Nurses, police, train drivers, cinema staff, pub employees, fast food workers, etc all worked.

If anyone is silly enough to complain about Easter Sunday public holiday then they surely should just shut their doors and miss out on business.

Until about 5 years ago Easter Sunday was a "no trade" day. That meant no employee had to work it.

When they allowed trading, they didn't also make it a public holiday. How ridiculous is that?

Many do shut their doors at COB Thusday and re-open Tuesday morning.

That's not entirely true. Nurses, police, train drivers, cinema staff, pub employees, fast food workers, etc all worked.

Not entirely true either. Yes emergency services staff worked but all were compensated with additional leave (e.g. police get no public holidays but 9 weeks annual leave per year). Train drivers are a good one, I'm not sure what their deal was.

Pubs, fast food, supermarkets etc. were all closed. If you employed more than 10 (I think) people you weren't allowed to open.

Many do shut their doors at COB Thusday and re-open Tuesday morning.

Yep, and so they can. Up to them.

If you are running your business so close to the line that additional staff costs on a single public holiday are going to put you out of business then your business isn't viable and you should probably shut out down.

What is the negative when 30-50,000 people rock in to Melbourne with bulging wallets for 2-3 days.

Hotel Reservations.

They spend a lot more than if they stayed home at work...

What is the negative when 30-50,000 people rock in to Melbourne with bulging wallets for 2-3 days.

Hotel Reservations.

They spend a lot more than if they stayed home at work...

lots of people from interstate rock into melbourne for the grand final every year

how does having a holiday on friday change that

What is the negative when 30-50,000 people rock in to Melbourne with bulging wallets for 2-3 days.

Hotel Reservations.

They spend a lot more than if they stayed home at work...

Problem being, it's not a holiday in other states...

Not entirely true either. Yes emergency services staff worked but all were compensated with additional leave (e.g. police get no public holidays but 9 weeks annual leave per year). Train drivers are a good one, I'm not sure what their deal was.

Pubs, fast food, supermarkets etc. were all closed. If you employed more than 10 (I think) people you weren't allowed to open.

To clarify, I think the point you're making was that the Bracks Government overturned a Kennett decision and stopped shops from opening on Easter Sunday if they employed more than a certain number of people. That allowed small businesses (milk bars, for example) to open but prevented larger businesses (such as Coles) from doing so.

And there's another group of employees who work on Easter Sunday we've forgotten about: AFL footballers, ground staff, media who cover football, etc.

Problem being, it's not a holiday in other states...

that is not a concern of Victoria

Hotel Reservations in the CBD will be made