Aged care dreads holidays
The hustle and bustle of Christmas and News Years may have passed, but South Australian aged care operators are already dreading its arrival at the end of the year. Aged and Community Services SA chief executive, Alan Graham, said the state’s aged care operators would be “worse off” by proposals making Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve ‘half-day’ public holidays.
The hustle and bustle of Christmas and News Years may have passed, but South Australian aged care operators are already dreading its arrival at the end of the year.
Aged and Community Services SA chief executive, Alan Graham, told the ABC the state’s aged care operators would be “worse off” by proposals making Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve ‘half-day’ public holidays.
Mr Graham said “paying penalty rates on extra holidays may drive up costs for nursing homes”.
Public consultations are now being held regarding the proposal which was announced in November last year.
While the changes benefit city retailers, Mr Graham said it would hurt other industries – particularly the aged care sector which was already “struggling in a financial sense”.
“Aged care is in a sense on a bit of a financial precipice. There’s no question there are a number of aged care providers who are doing things tough in a financial sense.
Mr Graham said the government showed no sign it would take notice of the industry’s submission.
“The government, in its paper, talks about ‘will include necessary changes to implement this government decision’. [But] that doesn’t suggest to you that there’s consultation going on,” he said.
The State Opposition is reserving judgment on the plan until it sees the legislation, which it may block in parliament.
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