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The Advertiser
13-07-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
More holidays in richest state could boost productivity
Workers in Australia's wealthiest state could get more time off. Western Australians currently have the second fewest number of public holidays in the nation, with 11. That's two less than Victoria and the ACT, which each have 13, while South Australia and the Northern Territory have 12 full days. NSW and Queensland also have 11 public holidays, and Tasmania has 10, according to the Fair Work Ombudsman. The WA government is reviewing the state's public holidays to potentially better align them with the east and boost productivity. "Western Australia is the engine room of the national economy, and I want to keep it that way," Premier Roger Cook said on Sunday. "It's also important that WA workers receive similar benefits to what workers receive in other states, because that's the right thing to do." The WA government is considering moving existing public holidays to align with other jurisdictions, moving WA Day, currently held in June, to avoid winter, and adding extra public holidays. It's calling for feedback from the community, businesses and peak bodies about potential changes to the holiday schedule. The state's peak business group, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA, said aligning WA's public holidays with the rest of the country made sense and would be welcomed. "But WA businesses would oppose extra public holidays," acting chief executive Aaron Morey said. "The cold, hard fact of the matter is that small businesses are doing it very tough at the moment." UnionsWA said it "wholeheartedly" supported the review. "Families are having to work flat-out to keep up with the cost of living and meet all the demands of modern life," state secretary Rikki Hendon said. "Public holidays are now one of the few genuine opportunities for working people to stop, relax, spend time with friends and family, and actually enjoy some of the fruits of their labour." The United Workers Union said WA was the only mainland jurisdiction that did not recognise the Easter Saturday public holiday. It means WA workers rostered on Easter Saturday do not receive a higher rate of pay. State secretary Carolyn Smith said it was time for parity with the other states. "West Australians work just as hard as workers in the eastern states, and are just as deserving of public holidays, and this review is a chance to demonstrate that," she said. "It's also a chance to explain to nay-sayers that bringing WA into line with other states will not cause the sky to fall in." National holidays, such as Anzac Day, Australia Day, Christmas and Boxing Day, are not being reviewed. Some jurisdictions also have regional, part-day and sector public holidays not included in the totals listed in this story. Workers in Australia's wealthiest state could get more time off. Western Australians currently have the second fewest number of public holidays in the nation, with 11. That's two less than Victoria and the ACT, which each have 13, while South Australia and the Northern Territory have 12 full days. NSW and Queensland also have 11 public holidays, and Tasmania has 10, according to the Fair Work Ombudsman. The WA government is reviewing the state's public holidays to potentially better align them with the east and boost productivity. "Western Australia is the engine room of the national economy, and I want to keep it that way," Premier Roger Cook said on Sunday. "It's also important that WA workers receive similar benefits to what workers receive in other states, because that's the right thing to do." The WA government is considering moving existing public holidays to align with other jurisdictions, moving WA Day, currently held in June, to avoid winter, and adding extra public holidays. It's calling for feedback from the community, businesses and peak bodies about potential changes to the holiday schedule. The state's peak business group, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA, said aligning WA's public holidays with the rest of the country made sense and would be welcomed. "But WA businesses would oppose extra public holidays," acting chief executive Aaron Morey said. "The cold, hard fact of the matter is that small businesses are doing it very tough at the moment." UnionsWA said it "wholeheartedly" supported the review. "Families are having to work flat-out to keep up with the cost of living and meet all the demands of modern life," state secretary Rikki Hendon said. "Public holidays are now one of the few genuine opportunities for working people to stop, relax, spend time with friends and family, and actually enjoy some of the fruits of their labour." The United Workers Union said WA was the only mainland jurisdiction that did not recognise the Easter Saturday public holiday. It means WA workers rostered on Easter Saturday do not receive a higher rate of pay. State secretary Carolyn Smith said it was time for parity with the other states. "West Australians work just as hard as workers in the eastern states, and are just as deserving of public holidays, and this review is a chance to demonstrate that," she said. "It's also a chance to explain to nay-sayers that bringing WA into line with other states will not cause the sky to fall in." National holidays, such as Anzac Day, Australia Day, Christmas and Boxing Day, are not being reviewed. Some jurisdictions also have regional, part-day and sector public holidays not included in the totals listed in this story. Workers in Australia's wealthiest state could get more time off. Western Australians currently have the second fewest number of public holidays in the nation, with 11. That's two less than Victoria and the ACT, which each have 13, while South Australia and the Northern Territory have 12 full days. NSW and Queensland also have 11 public holidays, and Tasmania has 10, according to the Fair Work Ombudsman. The WA government is reviewing the state's public holidays to potentially better align them with the east and boost productivity. "Western Australia is the engine room of the national economy, and I want to keep it that way," Premier Roger Cook said on Sunday. "It's also important that WA workers receive similar benefits to what workers receive in other states, because that's the right thing to do." The WA government is considering moving existing public holidays to align with other jurisdictions, moving WA Day, currently held in June, to avoid winter, and adding extra public holidays. It's calling for feedback from the community, businesses and peak bodies about potential changes to the holiday schedule. The state's peak business group, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA, said aligning WA's public holidays with the rest of the country made sense and would be welcomed. "But WA businesses would oppose extra public holidays," acting chief executive Aaron Morey said. "The cold, hard fact of the matter is that small businesses are doing it very tough at the moment." UnionsWA said it "wholeheartedly" supported the review. "Families are having to work flat-out to keep up with the cost of living and meet all the demands of modern life," state secretary Rikki Hendon said. "Public holidays are now one of the few genuine opportunities for working people to stop, relax, spend time with friends and family, and actually enjoy some of the fruits of their labour." The United Workers Union said WA was the only mainland jurisdiction that did not recognise the Easter Saturday public holiday. It means WA workers rostered on Easter Saturday do not receive a higher rate of pay. State secretary Carolyn Smith said it was time for parity with the other states. "West Australians work just as hard as workers in the eastern states, and are just as deserving of public holidays, and this review is a chance to demonstrate that," she said. "It's also a chance to explain to nay-sayers that bringing WA into line with other states will not cause the sky to fall in." National holidays, such as Anzac Day, Australia Day, Christmas and Boxing Day, are not being reviewed. Some jurisdictions also have regional, part-day and sector public holidays not included in the totals listed in this story. Workers in Australia's wealthiest state could get more time off. Western Australians currently have the second fewest number of public holidays in the nation, with 11. That's two less than Victoria and the ACT, which each have 13, while South Australia and the Northern Territory have 12 full days. NSW and Queensland also have 11 public holidays, and Tasmania has 10, according to the Fair Work Ombudsman. The WA government is reviewing the state's public holidays to potentially better align them with the east and boost productivity. "Western Australia is the engine room of the national economy, and I want to keep it that way," Premier Roger Cook said on Sunday. "It's also important that WA workers receive similar benefits to what workers receive in other states, because that's the right thing to do." The WA government is considering moving existing public holidays to align with other jurisdictions, moving WA Day, currently held in June, to avoid winter, and adding extra public holidays. It's calling for feedback from the community, businesses and peak bodies about potential changes to the holiday schedule. The state's peak business group, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA, said aligning WA's public holidays with the rest of the country made sense and would be welcomed. "But WA businesses would oppose extra public holidays," acting chief executive Aaron Morey said. "The cold, hard fact of the matter is that small businesses are doing it very tough at the moment." UnionsWA said it "wholeheartedly" supported the review. "Families are having to work flat-out to keep up with the cost of living and meet all the demands of modern life," state secretary Rikki Hendon said. "Public holidays are now one of the few genuine opportunities for working people to stop, relax, spend time with friends and family, and actually enjoy some of the fruits of their labour." The United Workers Union said WA was the only mainland jurisdiction that did not recognise the Easter Saturday public holiday. It means WA workers rostered on Easter Saturday do not receive a higher rate of pay. State secretary Carolyn Smith said it was time for parity with the other states. "West Australians work just as hard as workers in the eastern states, and are just as deserving of public holidays, and this review is a chance to demonstrate that," she said. "It's also a chance to explain to nay-sayers that bringing WA into line with other states will not cause the sky to fall in." National holidays, such as Anzac Day, Australia Day, Christmas and Boxing Day, are not being reviewed. Some jurisdictions also have regional, part-day and sector public holidays not included in the totals listed in this story.
West Australian
13-07-2025
- Business
- West Australian
WA public holidays: Premier says additional days would be win for State despite industry's fears
Public holiday reform will give West Australians more of a break through more of the year according to Roger Cook, despite industry concern over an increase in days paying higher rates. The Premier confirmed a review on Sunday that would shake up the State's public holiday calendar, with changes likely to take effect from either 2027 or 2028 by moving days like Labour Day and the King's Birthday to marry up with Eastern States' celebrations. It will also look at permanently moving WA Day from June to November to avoid the winter weather and include Easter Saturday as a public holiday to create a four-day stretch of holidays. A new public holiday would also be established, likely in September, although the State Government says the exact date and reason will be shaped by the public through consultation now underway . The review is open for community consultation from both members of the public and businesses. Despite the touted benefits for West Australian workers, the business sector reaction was mixed. Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA chief economist Aaron Morey said the body supported some parts of the review but feared what impact more public holidays would have on businesses. 'We support alignment of public holidays, that (different holiday in different States) is a productivity drag,' he said. 'The King has far too many birthdays as it is so we do support the intent around aligning public holidays with the east coast. 'We don't support an additional public holiday. For small businesses that are doing it tough right now that just represents extra costs that they can ill afford at this time.' Moving Australia Day will not be considered during the process, nor will changing Christmas, Boxing or Anzac Day. The Premier said there was frustration around the current calendar. 'What I've often heard in the business community is that they're frustrated when our public holidays don't align with a lot of the public holidays in the east coast,' he said. 'I hear from a lot of people who say why do we celebrate WA which has got such amazing weather in the deepest, darkest parts of winter, and of course everyone says why are holidays so jammed in the first half of the year and not spread more evenly throughout the year?' The move to add two more public holidays was welcomed by United Workers Union WA State Secretary Carolyn Smith. 'Our members will welcome this review and the solutions that are being considered,' she said. 'It's a long-standing issue that the public holiday playing field has been tilted against West Australians, and it's great the WA Government is considering important changes to address that. 'West Australians work just as hard as workers in the eastern states, and are just as deserving of public holidays, and this review is a chance to demonstrate that.' Australian Hotels Association WA chief executive officer Bradley Woods warned added public holidays could lead to higher prices for consumers and some venues remaining closed.
Perth Now
13-07-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
More holidays in richest state could boost productivity
Workers in Australia's wealthiest state could get more time off. Western Australians currently have the second fewest number of public holidays in the nation, with 11. That's two less than Victoria and the ACT, which each have 13, while South Australia and the Northern Territory have 12 full days. NSW and Queensland also have 11 public holidays, and Tasmania has 10, according to the Fair Work Ombudsman. The WA government is reviewing the state's public holidays to potentially better align them with the east and boost productivity. "Western Australia is the engine room of the national economy, and I want to keep it that way," Premier Roger Cook said on Sunday. "It's also important that WA workers receive similar benefits to what workers receive in other states, because that's the right thing to do." The WA government is considering moving existing public holidays to align with other jurisdictions, moving WA Day, currently held in June, to avoid winter, and adding extra public holidays. It's calling for feedback from the community, businesses and peak bodies about potential changes to the holiday schedule. The state's peak business group, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA, said aligning WA's public holidays with the rest of the country made sense and would be welcomed. "But WA businesses would oppose extra public holidays," acting chief executive Aaron Morey said. "The cold, hard fact of the matter is that small businesses are doing it very tough at the moment." UnionsWA said it "wholeheartedly" supported the review. "Families are having to work flat-out to keep up with the cost of living and meet all the demands of modern life," state secretary Rikki Hendon said. "Public holidays are now one of the few genuine opportunities for working people to stop, relax, spend time with friends and family, and actually enjoy some of the fruits of their labour." The United Workers Union said WA was the only mainland jurisdiction that did not recognise the Easter Saturday public holiday. It means WA workers rostered on Easter Saturday do not receive a higher rate of pay. State secretary Carolyn Smith said it was time for parity with the other states. "West Australians work just as hard as workers in the eastern states, and are just as deserving of public holidays, and this review is a chance to demonstrate that," she said. "It's also a chance to explain to nay-sayers that bringing WA into line with other states will not cause the sky to fall in." National holidays, such as Anzac Day, Australia Day, Christmas and Boxing Day, are not being reviewed. Some jurisdictions also have regional, part-day and sector public holidays not included in the totals listed in this story.
West Australian
11-07-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA complains kids not ‘job ready,' calls for reforms to lift school standards
Frustrated businesses have warned WA's high schools are turning out more graduates who lack the basic skills and knowledge to make them 'job ready', putting the State's future economic prosperity at risk. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA is demanding reforms to lift school education standards. 'Lower education outcomes are a handbrake on productivity and a barrier to young people getting a start in the workforce,' CCIWA acting chief executive Aaron Morey said. 'It is extremely concerning that employers are, increasingly, finding school graduates are lacking basic skills and knowledge. 'If WA can lift the standards achieved by students when they finish high school, it will lead to better outcomes for those students and boost our economy.' A report released by the business lobby group on Saturday said industry stakeholders believed the 'primary purpose' of education was to deliver students who were 'workforce ready'. 'And based on this metric, WA's education system is not meeting expectations,' it said. The report quoted a trades training business which noted school leavers' literacy and numeracy levels were 'particularly bad'. 'Apprentices are often let go because they need to re-learn basic knowledge they should have learnt in school settings,' it said. Others deplored graduates' lack of basic digital skills, despite their familiarity with technology. 'Simple things such as writing emails and being comfortable communicating over the phone,' a health and community services sector representative said. The report said most employers wanted graduates who were able to communicate effectively — verbally and in writing — apply maths in real-world scenarios and think critically about their workplace. It criticised WA's School Curriculum and Standards Authority for adding more subjects into the curriculum, instead of focusing on critical skills. 'Students are just so overwhelmed with a smorgasbord of topics,' one business noted. '(WA has) the most crowded curriculum ever but the least resilient kids.' The CCIWA is demanding a raft of reforms to boost students' results, including a renewed focus on supporting teachers to use explicit instruction, a teaching method that breaks skills and concepts down into small, systematic steps, with regular checks for understanding. The report also called for a simplified curriculum, better collaboration between schools and industry and a strategy to build students' resilience. Education Department acting deputy director-general for student achievement Raechelle Lee said the CCIWA report contained inaccuracies when referring to declining academic standards. 'Results at WA schools remain high,' she said. 'In 2024, over 94 per cent of full-time WACE-eligible Year 12 students demonstrated the literacy and numeracy standard, with NAPLAN results also showing WA students performing at or above national levels in key areas. 'Literacy and numeracy are embedded in the curriculum from the early years through to Year 12, and WA led the nation by being the first jurisdiction to introduce a minimum literacy and numeracy standard requirement for senior secondary certification. 'WA's curriculum includes digital literacy, critical thinking, and ethical understanding as general capabilities, aligning with key skills sought by employers.' Ms Lee said changes planned for senior secondary education meant it would be better aligned with emerging workforce demands, especially in STEM and digital skills. 'The department supports a range of initiatives in schools to prepare students to become job-ready,' she said. 'This includes through Vocational Education and Training pathways, specialised career practitioners, support for school-based apprenticeships and traineeships, including working actively with training providers and employers to provide students with the opportunity to engage in industry-relevant training. 'Industry also has an important role in providing chances for students to do workplace learning — and we encourage industry to find ways to give more young people those invaluable opportunities to prepare for the future of work. 'Free career conversations events are also held across the State to give students and their parents accurate, up-to-date career pathway and labour market information, and the chance to hear from industry experts about post-school options and the evolving world of work.'
West Australian
10-07-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Liam O'Brien: Australia is bleeding apprentices, it's time we paid them more
Writing in The West on Monday, Aaron Morey laid out the fact-free arguments that employer groups lean into when demanding concessions and subsidies from taxpayers so that bosses can 'fix' Australia's skilled trades shortage. Morey wants to double down on a failed solution. In calling for increased employer incentives for bosses hiring apprentices, he ignores the fact that 70 per cent of current or prospective apprentice employers already receive an apprenticeship incentive, as reported by a survey from the Australian Industry Group. Clearly, incentives are not the answer to a shortage of apprentices. In fact, the recent strategic review of the Australian Apprenticeship Incentive System found that apprentice incentives often make little impact on hiring decisions by bosses and your boss being paid obviously doesn't incentivise apprentices themselves to do anything. We do need to urgently increase apprenticeship starts, but first we must address the poor completion rate. Australia loses nearly 50 per cent of its apprentices, 80 per cent of the time because the apprentices decide to walk away. For as long as we lose so many apprentices each year, it would be a waste of time and money to increase new starters, without first addressing the leaky bucket in taking action to keep young people in apprenticeships and help them to get over the finish line. Low pay is the biggest barrier to commencement and completion rates. The strategic review found that low rates of apprentice pay discouraged people from signing up for an apprenticeship and resulted in many leaving apprenticeships early in search of higher paying jobs. Low overall rates of pay and wage discounting, through junior pay rates, often force apprentices to choose between the long-term gain of a career or the need to earn more money now in other entry-level work that pays significantly more. The fact that so many young people choose the short-term earnings route out of necessity leaves them — and the nation — a lot poorer in the longer term. If bosses were serious about fixing this issue, they would back increased apprentice pay and abolish junior rates for all apprentices. Bosses also need to hold up a mirror to examine their own leadership in the workplace. While many employers take their responsibility seriously, we know that many apprentices receive sub-par — or even non-existent supervision and training while on the job. Apprentice roundtables, held as part of the strategic review, heard apprentices report that they didn't receive proper training, were asked to carry out unrelated tasks as cheap labour, and worked with limited, or even no supervision, amid high rates of exploitation and mistreatment. Instead of asking for hand-outs, employers should take more seriously their responsibility to supervise apprentices and provide a quality learning and working environment. The hundreds of millions of taxpayer money that goes to funding support for apprentices, provided by Apprentice Connect Australia, is often poor and fails to provide apprentices with much-needed workplace and pastoral support. This system needs a radical overhaul. Employers do have a role to play and it's great that they are starting to realise their responsibility for training our future workforce. The problem is while every employer wants access to a skilled workforce, most of them want someone else to provide the actual training opportunities and to foot the bill. Aaron Morey's realisation that there are no apprenticeships without employers will be a dim light bulb moment if his members don't also consider their own role in providing better apprenticeship opportunities before simply demanding more taxpayer concessions. Liam O'Brien is the assistant secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions.
