In a push from businesses to end ‘double dipping’ public holiday penalty rates could be scrapped when they fall on a weekend.

The Australian Industry group wants the New South Wales government to remove the public holiday penalty rates from Christmas Day if it falls on a Saturday or Sunday, as well as remove double penalty rates from Easter Sunday.

Ai Group chief executive Innes Willox said: ‘In a submission to the NSW Government’s review of public holiday legislation, the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) has urged the Government to take the lead in achieving more national consistency on public holidays.’

In a push from businesses to end ‘double dipping’ public holiday penalty rates could be scrapped when they fall on a weekend (stock image)

Ai Group chief executive Innes Willox (pictured) has urged the NSW government to remove the public holiday penalty rates from Christmas Day if it falls on a Saturday or Sunday, as well as remove double penalty rates from Easter Sunday

‘Surely it is time for the State and Territory Governments to work together to achieve a more rational public holiday system in Australia.’

This year Christmas Day falls on a Sunday- employers will need to pay their workers holiday penalty rates on Sunday December 25 and then again on Tuesday December 27, which is the official Christmas Day public holiday.

Ai Group’s submission for statutory review into the Public Holidays Act urges the New South Wales Government to: ‘Substitute Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day public holidays which fall on the weekend with a holiday on the following Monday or Tuesday rather than declaring any additional days.’

The submission also wants the Baird Government to ‘Align Easter public holidays with the majority of other States and Territories. This would result in three declared public holidays over Easter on Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Monday, with Easter Sunday no longer being a public holiday.’

The Northern Territory and Victoria will not have two separate public holidays for Christmas this year meaning workers in these states will be paid the regular Sunday rate on December 25 and then the standard public holiday rate on Tuesday December 27.

‘Public holidays impose huge costs on businesses and the broader community. It is important for all State and Territory Governments to minimise unnecessary costs for public holidays by declaring public holidays in a more nationally consistent manner, and avoiding declaring unwarranted additional public holidays,’ Mr Willox said.

The review’s outcome will soon be released by the government.

This year Christmas Day falls on a Sunday- employers will need to pay their workers holiday penalty rates on Sunday December 25 and then again on Tuesday December 27, which is the official Christmas Day Public holiday (stock image)