The benefit of two half-day public holidays in South Australia is disputed by industry groups who disagree with government figures.
Non-casuals working during the new holidays which operate from 7pm to midnight on both Christmas and New Year’s Eve (in retirement villages, aged care, retail or hospitality) now receive higher penalty rates.
An independent report found the cost to business was varied, with aged care homes slugged up to $1700 per facility.
The government welcomed the report, with Premier Jay Weatherill saying it showed most South Australians support the changes.
Peter Malinauskas from the Shop Workers Association agreed that the benefits outweigh the costs.
"It makes it clear that the impact on business has been actually negligible, yet it has provided a very real benefit to those people who serve the community late at night on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve," he said.
The aged care sector disagrees and says the extra hours cost them $500,000 last year, money they can’t afford and a cost burden that will result in reduced services.
"Half a million dollars is money that aged care doesn't have to spare,” said state chief executive of Leading Age Services Australia Paul Carberry (pictured).
“They operate on thin margins and this is just another cost courtesy of the State Government which they have not made any attempt to compensate aged care providers for," he said.
