RE: Regulatory Impact Statement on Two Proposed New Public Holidays in Victoria

MACLEOD VILLAGE TRADERS ASSOCIATION PO Box 881 MACLEOD VIC 3085 m: 0417 580 009 e: [email protected]

10th August 2015

Ms Barbara Cullen Manager Small Business Policy Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources Via email: [email protected]

Dear Barbara,

RE: Regulatory Impact Statement on two proposed new public holidays in Victoria

I understand that the period for submissions has closed, however, due to gaining committee endorsement for our proposal, the Macleod Village Traders Association was not in a position to submit a comment without committee approval.

This was granted last week and our formal response is below. We have copied Mr A Carbines, MP Local Member for Ivanhoe, so that he is aware of our Associations sentiments regarding the proposal of two additional public holidays and request that this is placed on the public record.

The Macleod Village Traders, who represents 44 businesses in a main street centre, oppose the introduction of additional Victorian Public Holidays.

As the President of the Macleod Village Traders Association, I speak on behalf of the small business retailers in our centre, who are already finding it particularly difficult to trade in this economic environment. By declaring a public holiday simply due to it being the eve of a Football Grand Final will cripple this trading day. We do not believe it will stimulate spending, only increase the labour costs for our café’s, beauty salons and clothing stores that opt to stay open this day. It also forces the closure of professional services businesses.

In our opinion this pre-election promise may have gained votes to secure party governance, but it is only hurting business and even home based businesses who already find it difficult to meet rising utility and other operating costs.

With regards to the Public Holiday for Easter Sunday, whilst our Association does not support any increase in costs, this proposal does sit more comfortably with us as opposed to the new Grand Final Eve proposal.

We urge the government to reconsider this proposition. Sincerely,

(for) Lee Shipley President c.c. A Carbines, MP, Member for Ivanhoe & Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment