South Australia: Fair Work Australia rules on part-day public holidays

New penalty rate arrangements for Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve will go ahead as legislated this year, Business SA reports. 

Fair Work considered a late request to review the changes, following complaints from the hospitality industry and other sectors that they were unfairly dragged into the deal extending retail trading times over the course of the year. 

The determination will affect the part-day holidays for this year, and could possibly be reviewed next year. 

The South Australian government legislated for part-day public holidays to apply from 7pm to midnight on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, increasing penalty rates for workers. However, some employers have warned that they will have to close rather than operate at a loss.