SDA Secretary Peter Malinauskas is outraged by industry groups who are misleading South Australians with claims our entertainment precincts will be ghost towns over Easter.
“To say that businesses will be shut is simply not true, anyone looking to hit the shops in Rundle Mall on Easter Saturday can do so and if they want to get a meal or have a drink after there are a range of pubs and restaurants to choose from.
“I cannot believe that industry groups such as Restaurant and Catering SA are irresponsibly choosing to misinform the public about what to expect for the Easter weekend.
“You can have a steak a the Stag, a beer at the Austral or go to Hutt Street for a coffee where a number of cafes will be open like many other precincts around Adelaide on Easter Saturday,” said Peter.
Employer lobby groups are unfairly blaming penalty rates for businesses choosing not to open over the Easter long weekend.
There are hundreds of both small and large businesses trading on Sundays and public holidays and hundreds of workers are earning penalty rates throughout the year and Easter is no exception to this.
“Many restaurants in the city, including La Trattoria on King William Street, will be so flat out serving dinner on Easter Saturday that you will need to make a booking.
“If you’re heading to watch the Crows play at Adelaide Oval on Easter Sunday, you can go to city and North Adelaide pubs and cafes for a meal after the game.
“Some employer lobby groups are doing businesses a complete disservice by being on the front page of the paper saying that Adelaide will be a ghost town.
“It’s blatantly misinforming people into thinking cafes, pubs and restaurants will be closed when in fact they will be open and paying their workers accordingly,” said Peter.
The SDA believes that employees who work unsociable hours such as late nights, weekends and public holidays should be fairly compensated.