A new survey shows four in five Tasmanian businesses oppose a plan to make Easter Sunday a public holiday, with industry groups warning it could force closures over one of the state’s busiest tourism weekends.
The Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is urging upper house members to reject Labor’s Statutory Holidays Amendment Bill when it comes before the Legislative Council this week.
A TCCI survey found 78% of its members are against the change.
Acting CEO Colleen Reardon said Labor’s argument for consistency with mainland states does not stack up.
“Tasmania is the only state in the country with an Easter Tuesday public service holiday and they have stayed conspicuously silent on that,” she said.
“Labor cannot argue for national consistency on Sunday while defending a carve-out on Tuesday.”
Reardon said adding Easter Sunday would effectively create a four-day shutdown when combined with Good Friday, Easter Monday and existing Easter Tuesday arrangements.
“The irony is that this is sold as a win for workers, but you can’t earn a public holiday rate on a shift that doesn’t exist,” she said.
Several businesses told the TCCI they would cut hours or close outright over the entire Easter period if the bill proceeds.
Hospitality Tasmania CEO Steve Old said a survey of more than 130 hospitality businesses found nearly 80% do not want the proposal to go ahead.
“Adding another public holiday, on top of the newest wage increases, would push many venues beyond the point where they can viably open,” he said.
Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania CEO Amy Hills said the impacts would be felt hardest in regional areas.
“If businesses decide not to open due to increasing costs, the impacts flow to regional communities, Tasmanian jobs and our reputation more broadly,” she said.
Deputy Labor leader Janie Finlay said Tasmania is often the last place to act on such changes.
“It has progressed through and is being considered in the upper house,” she said.
“The upper house will make their decision on this to make sure that Tasmania is in line with the rest of the country.”
Tasmania is the only Australian state that does not recognise Easter Sunday as a public holiday.
The government has opposed the bill, with Deputy Premier Guy Barnett previously saying small businesses could not afford another public holiday.
Treasury advice estimated the change would cost the state economy around $24 million.
If passed, the change would take effect from Easter 2027.
