What the Queen’s day of mourning means for businesses and what will be open in Adelaide

Anzac Day will be used as the model for the national day of mourning – but some businesses are still confused about their obligations to staff. See our Q&A on what it means.

Confusion reigns over which stores will be open on next week’s public holiday as businesses grapple with the sting of increased costs.

On the nation’s day of mourning for the Queen, South Australian retail trading hours will be similar to Anzac Day, with shops to be closed until noon as a mark of respect. Below we detail the obligations for businesses towards staff.

It comes as casual education staff are expected to see a win after their union urged the state government to pay them for a lost day’s work next Thursday.

On Tuesday, Andrew Gohl, president of the Australian Education Union SA said the public holiday on September 22 was a “blow to our lowest paid and most precariously employed staff”.

The union tweeted last night to say its advocacy to the Department for Education and an appeal to Industrial Relations Minister Kyam Maher had paid off.

“Tomorrow, Wednesday 14 September, the Department for Education will release information that delivers payment to support staff for the public holidays,” the tweet said.

Student support officers and early childhood workers who accepted shifts on the public holidays are expected to benefit from the payment.

Casual swimming and aquatics instructors and temporary relief teachers booked for the holiday are being urged to contact the union for advocacy.

For retailers, there will be no changes to Thursday’s late night shopping with extended trading until 9pm to remain in place.

The late notice announcement has created a headache for businesses who will now be forced to pay penalty rates, should they choose to trade.

Business SA’s director of policy and advocacy Kendall Crowe said it created another challenge for many operators who are already facing cost pressures.

“While Business SA acknowledges that this day has been chosen to pay our respects, we are acutely aware of the impact this decision has on businesses, particularly at a time of significant cost pressures around energy, transport, materials and wages,” she said.

“As such, we have already conveyed our concern to the Premier.”

However, Mrs Crowe said they supported every opportunity for South Australian businesses to continue to trade if they choose to.

“Therefore, we support the government’s proposed exemption to give businesses the choice to trade on Thursday 22 September,” she said.

“This includes businesses of all types that operate under the Shop Trading Act, irrespective of location and size (which would usually determine if a business can open).”

She said businesses that trade need to be aware of their obligations.

Shoppers in the Rundle Mall. Picture: Morgan Sette

“Businesses that would usually trade on a public holiday or now choose to under this exemption must check their relevant industrial instruments (Modern Award, Enterprise Agreement, Employment Contract, etc) to determine the appropriate penalties for employees required to work on a public holiday,” Mrs Crowe said.

The Australian Retailers Association chief executive Paul Zahra praised the SA government for providing clarity as soon as possible.

“We appreciate the clarity that’s been provided by the South Australian government with the trading conditions that’ll be in place for next week’s public holiday,” he said.

“This is important for planning purposes, as businesses would normally have their rostering arrangements in place weeks in advance.”

However, he said the 12pm restriction in SA highlighted the inconsistencies of trading hours across the different states and territories.

Meanwhile, Australian Education Union SA president Andrew Gohl said casual education staff should get paid for the last-minute public holiday.

“The day of mourning public holiday will leave our lowest paid, precariously employed support staff unpaid for the day,” Mr Gohl said.

He said this would apply to temporary relief teachers, support staff, aquatic instructors and other casuals in the education sector.

“These lowest paid workers can ill afford to suffer any financial detriment. The AEU calls upon the Malinauskas government to ensure no education worker is disadvantaged by this unplanned holiday,” he said.