The Accommodation Association of Australia says it strongly supports the proposal to moderate Sunday penalty rates for workers in the industry.
If adopted, the proposal, which has been put forward in the draft report of the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into Australia’s workplace relations framework, “would stimulate the accommodation and tourism industries, as well as the broader economy”, according to Accommodation Association of Australia CEO, Richard Munro.
“The Productivity Commission has vindicated the concerns of the accommodation industry about high penalty rates on Sunday,” he said.
“The recommendation that Sunday penalty rates should be set at Saturday rates for the majority of workers in our industry is a sensible one.
“For the benefit of accommodation and tourism, the industry advocates both the Federal Government and Opposition also backing the proposed change.”
Munro said the Accommodation Association’s position is not that penalty rates should be abolished, but rather, Sunday and public holiday penalty rates are too high.
“If Sunday penalty rates were to be brought into line with Saturday penalty rates, this would immediately result in operators of accommodation businesses employing more staff,” Munro said.
“Lower penalty rates on Sundays would also see the re-opening on Sundays of restaurants and cafes in accommodation businesses because it would be much more affordable for operators to do so.
“Lower penalty rates on Sundays would be the first step in helping Australia to catch up to other lower-cost international tourism destinations which are on our doorstep.”