The national day of mourning for the Queen announced this morning presents challenges for business, especially small business retailers, like newsagents, and especially so in Victoria.
Friday September 23 is already a public holiday for the AFL Grand Final.
Now, we have the day before, September 22, designated a public holiday. It’s a Thursday, with attendant magazine challenges for plenty of newsagents, too.
We’ll all have to consider opening hours and roster settings. Given penalty rates, it presents a challenge.
Since school holidays are already under way then, that is also a consideration.
Everyone has their local situation to consider. For us in suburban Melbourne, for example, it will be a half day open on the national day mourning I think. 7am to 1pm probably.
Most sales for many newsagents will be papers, at 12.5% GP and magazines, at 25% GP. Wages will cost around $45 an hour. You can soon work out the cost of being open on this new public holiday.
Maybe the federal and state governments could join in on the mourning and waive taxes and charges for a day. Of course, that’s a ridiculous and impossible suggestion. But I do wonder about the cost to all businesses of this new public holiday. In small businesses, especially, days like this increase the cost to business owners either in financial terms or demands on their own time.
I get that there are some in the community who will embrace and appreciate the national day of mourning, and I get that the country, as part of the Commonwealth, needs to be seen to do something like this, and that plenty of Australians will want it. What is frustrating is the considerable cost that falls to small business without consultation – which, of course, would be impossible in this rare circumstance.
I mention it merely to note it.
Also, it would be churlish to not note the economic value to flow from the passing of the Queen in newspaper, magazine and mint coin sales, and more I suspect. So there is that, for which I am grateful.
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I am all for a republic. The sooner the better. The Queen dying doesn’t sadden me. I feel no connection to her. I’m not aware of anything good she did for me, or anyone I know. I am aware of her involvement, by proxy, and by looking the other way, in the removal of a democratically elected government in Australia, as documented thoroughly in The Palace Letters, by Jenny Hocking.
Bloodline monarchies have no place in democracy in my opinion.
Yes, she was a strong woman of influence in the world, and she was likeable and she was the official British Head of State. But, getting the seat because of bloodline and being surrounded by such luxury and opulence public funding is problematic to me, as is their invasion of well settled lands, like Australia, where the indigenous were slaughtered.
Queen Elizabeth11 was by far the most popular CEO in the past 75 years of Modern History.
Irreplacable.
I don’t see why we need a Republic or why we would want one howver I am NOT against it especially as we have our own independence.
Our History as is Americas (U.S.A.) New Zealand’s have te benefit of freedom and a mixed culture that is the envy of the World,
There is trouble in Europe and the Sian Pacipic region. Russia and China are ruffling their neighbours. Russia is already at War with Ukraine.
I would hope the Australian politicians will hasten slowly and more to the point carefully with the enevitable Republic.
Alboi has already declared the public holiday to “fit in” with the World in mourning and Celebrating her great Reign.
Mark, it’s time to be gracious and after Thursday week it will be time to tackle our future.
It is dills who are our elected leaders who chose a Thursday of all days for this one off public holiday. It has to be the worse day of the week for most retailers and I hear the frustrations of the Victorians with another holiday following the very the next day. These guys only work experience outside of politics has been as either trade unionists or political staffers. They clearly have no idea how to run a small business or where money comes from. God help us if they one day get to elect our head of state!~
Steve, I agree with everything you say about Politicians However the occasionb is Internationally revered and set for the 22.9.2022 which is a Thursday here in OZ.
To be clear Graeme, the timing is purely due to the fact that it is the day after our PM and the Governor General arrive back in Australia. The UK have declared a Royal Bank holiday for the 19th. NZ is yet to declare a day of mourning. Our parliament is currently in recess during a prolonged mourning period whilst the UK parliament continues to sit as normal. I’m all for showing our respects here in Australia but sorry we all look like dills due to the decisions made by our pollies none of whom will be losing a cent!
Hi Steve,
Apparently it coincides with the memorial service held in England same day, silly me thought this to be in sync with the World. You have pointed out that it’s an Albanese idea to have this after he has attended the service over there.
Politicians as you say and especially in this case will cost all business dearly.
yes it could have been just as respectful on a Saturday or Sunday and we do not need any more public holidays and we still could (for those that want to) pay our repects as I am sure many organisations would be do something for the community.
Intersting Albanese being such a Republican supporter milking the non voters by gifting our businesses another day of hardship.
Thanks for the adjustment to my thinking I totally agree with the unnecessary plight it will cause ALL business especially SME’s newsagents.