By BRIDGET SCOTT
A CASEY councillor has urged the State Government to reconsider the AFL grand-final public holiday, saying that council will suffer financially.
Councillor Geoff Ablett wants both sides of government to be made aware of the impact it will have on the City of Casey.
Councillor Ablett said council would “incur significant costs and loss of productivity for the AFL Friday Public Holiday on 2 October 2015.”
“People will be paying extra penalty rates for people to do work because it’s a public holiday,” he said.
“Some people may choose to shut as they don’t want to pay penalty rates.”
Councillor Ablett has estimated the salary cost for the 975 officers at council would equate to around $300,000.
He has asked that a report be made to council, outlining the impact of the State Government’s new public holidays. The report is expected to include loss of productivity, council salary costs, staff costs related to community festivals and events, parking officers and costs of contracted services.
