Businesses in Werribee have slammed the state government’s decision to give Victorians a public holiday on the eve of the AFL grand final, reporting a significant drop in trade.
The normally busy Watton Street was quieter than usual on Friday, but small businesses still opened their doors, hoping the predicted negative impact of the day off would be proved wrong.
Carl El Houli, owner of Charlie’s Fresh Fruit Market on Station Street, said despite normally closing on public holidays, he had decided to open to test the waters.
“There just aren’t many people around at all. We’ve made around 80 per cent less than what we’d normally make on a Friday,” he told Star Weekly.
Mr El Houli shut up shop six hours earlier than he normally would on a Friday.
Station Street Meats owner Paul Camilleri agreed, citing a 50 per cent loss of trade.
“This is pretty bad; it’s going to kill us,” he said.
Tonia Tribe, the owner of Tonia T Boutique, said the holiday’s impact on trade had been significant.
“Being on a Friday, many people will also be going away on a Saturday, too,” she said. “The impact this is having on small businesses is just devastating.”
She closed her store at 3pm on Friday.
The hospitality industry wasn’t exempt either, with Chatterbox Cafe manager Adam Parnis venting his frustration.
“This day has killed us. Normally on a public holiday, we double our takings, but today we’re only making half. We’ve had to send two staff members home early. Small businesses can’t afford this.”
A study commissioned by the government found the holiday could cost the state more than $850 million a year in loss of trade and the cost of penalty rates.
Victoria has 13 public holidays a year – the most of any state.
