1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,960 Speaker 1: Well, we have heard about what some of the impact 2 00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:05,600 Speaker 1: is going to be there when it comes to Easter 3 00:00:05,720 --> 00:00:08,720 Speaker 1: Sunday being declared a public holiday. But for a lot 4 00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:12,120 Speaker 1: of our workers, particularly if you are a lower income worker, 5 00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:15,560 Speaker 1: it could be a real boost for you working on 6 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:18,320 Speaker 1: that Easter Sunday. Now, joining me in the studio to 7 00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 1: tell us a little bit more is Josh Peek, who 8 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:23,840 Speaker 1: is indeed the secretary of the SDA here in the 9 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:27,360 Speaker 1: Northern Territory and also in South Australia. Good morning to you. 10 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:28,880 Speaker 2: Josh get Akatie. Thanks having me in. 11 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:31,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, thanks for your time this morning. Now what does 12 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:35,720 Speaker 1: the public holiday declaration mean for workers in your industries? 13 00:00:36,080 --> 00:00:39,519 Speaker 2: Well, look, it's really significant that workers will now be 14 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:42,600 Speaker 2: able to either have Easter Sunday off with pay like 15 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:45,400 Speaker 2: most other workers can get, and have had the opportunity 16 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 2: to enjoy the Easter long long weekend like most of 17 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:53,040 Speaker 2: us can. So that's obviously the first, big, big and 18 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 2: significant reason why this is important. But for those that 19 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:58,680 Speaker 2: are required to work or do still need to go 20 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:00,680 Speaker 2: to work on Easter Sunday, it does mean they'll be 21 00:01:00,720 --> 00:01:03,760 Speaker 2: earning public holiday penalty rates. And when you do speak 22 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:07,200 Speaker 2: to many people out in the community. They genuinely, honestly 23 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:10,640 Speaker 2: surprised that Easter Sunday is not already public holiday, and 24 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:13,840 Speaker 2: most people think that already is. It's a public holiday 25 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:18,319 Speaker 2: right across the Eastern States. It's been fixed pretty much everywhere. 26 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:20,760 Speaker 2: Western Australia and the Northern Territory came on board. Actually 27 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:24,240 Speaker 2: last year. This is the second year we've seen the declaration, 28 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 2: and we just don't think it would have made sense 29 00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:29,919 Speaker 2: for workers in the retail sector, or the hospitality sector, 30 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 2: or in our essential services to be getting paid less 31 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 2: than their Eastern States colleagues on Easter, of all weekends. 32 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:40,039 Speaker 2: It's pretty significant. 33 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:41,920 Speaker 1: Why do you reckon it's not been just sort of 34 00:01:41,959 --> 00:01:44,520 Speaker 1: gazetted for the year. I was talking to the Chamber 35 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 1: of Commerce just a few moments ago, and you know, 36 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:49,840 Speaker 1: you sort of wonder why it's not permanently gazetted if 37 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:52,640 Speaker 1: it is something that the government's planning to do each year. 38 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 2: Yeah. Look, and this is something that we've been calling 39 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 2: on the government to do, which is to make permanent 40 00:01:56,800 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 2: reforms to our Public Holidays Act. We've got a few 41 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:01,600 Speaker 2: issues that we want to see fixed, particularly as to 42 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 2: what happens when Boxing Day and New Year's Day fall 43 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 2: on the weekend, and what happens with Easter Sunday to 44 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:11,119 Speaker 2: see alignment with what's happening in most other states and territories. 45 00:02:11,160 --> 00:02:13,640 Speaker 2: So we've been calling for that reform for some time. 46 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 2: They're currently consulting on that, which is great, and we 47 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 2: would love to see a permanent change to the Holidays 48 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:22,440 Speaker 2: Act to give alignment to really fixing up the Holidays 49 00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 2: Act soor it properly respects the role that workers who 50 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 2: work on the weekend play, but that it also provides 51 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:31,840 Speaker 2: certainty to business going forward, because we think that's logical. 52 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:34,600 Speaker 2: Workers also want to know whether they can have east 53 00:02:34,639 --> 00:02:36,680 Speaker 2: or off right now. They don't have that right if 54 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:39,799 Speaker 2: it's not a public public holiday. So you know, they've 55 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:41,840 Speaker 2: got to contemplate the idea of either having to take 56 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 2: annual leave or go without pay on Sunday. That's been 57 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:48,679 Speaker 2: fixed by this, but it would be good to see 58 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:50,480 Speaker 2: some more certainty. We've been calling for it for some 59 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:53,359 Speaker 2: time and we're really hopeful that in twenty twenty three 60 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 2: the government will change the law bring the Territory Holidays 61 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:59,240 Speaker 2: Act into the twenty first century. Because reality is the 62 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:01,200 Speaker 2: Holidays Act was ridden at a time, and the reason 63 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:03,480 Speaker 2: why Easter Sunday is not a public holiday was that 64 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 2: so few of us worked. It really wasn't something but 65 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:10,919 Speaker 2: that many people would actually have to contemplate. But now 66 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:15,880 Speaker 2: in twenty twenty three, so many people above forty percent 67 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 2: of our community can actually be required to be working 68 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:21,200 Speaker 2: over the week over the weekend. We're to bring our 69 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:23,399 Speaker 2: Public Holidays Act into the twenty first century and fix 70 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:26,240 Speaker 2: it and properly acknowledged the really important contribution that we 71 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 2: can workers play. 72 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:30,160 Speaker 1: And I understand that you have met with Minister Paul 73 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 1: Kirby as well. Have you just met with him on 74 00:03:31,919 --> 00:03:34,240 Speaker 1: this topic or on other things as well, and how 75 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:35,400 Speaker 1: has it gone. Well? 76 00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 2: Look, yeah, absolutely, when we meet with the government pretty 77 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:40,360 Speaker 2: regularly here to make sure that we've continued to see 78 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:44,200 Speaker 2: law forming a whole range of areas we've really pleased. 79 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:47,080 Speaker 2: For example, with the recent announcement in relation to trespass changes. 80 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:49,320 Speaker 2: We've been calling for that for some time and really 81 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:51,880 Speaker 2: making sure that our members in retail and fast food 82 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 2: have got the right to ban on unru ruly customers. 83 00:03:56,320 --> 00:04:00,280 Speaker 2: That's fantastic. We're continuing to advocate for changes to our 84 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 2: Long Service Leave Act. We think again, we've got a 85 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:06,240 Speaker 2: pretty good Act act here, but there's some particular problems 86 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 2: with the way it treats working women and the gender 87 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:13,040 Speaker 2: impact of our current Long Service League provisions here in 88 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:16,640 Speaker 2: the NT, and obviously making sure that our Public Holidays 89 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:20,800 Speaker 2: Act is fixed is really important to members across the territory. 90 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:24,520 Speaker 1: Josh, just on the trespass changes, how have things been 91 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 1: going for your workers? I mean we saw earlier in 92 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 1: the week Casuarina Square, for example, we spoke to Polly LeMond, 93 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:33,600 Speaker 1: the center manager, about the band that they've had to 94 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:35,160 Speaker 1: implement for the next month. 95 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:36,159 Speaker 2: For a couple of schools. 96 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:39,200 Speaker 1: How are things going from your perspective for your workers 97 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 1: in this space When you look at some of the 98 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:42,719 Speaker 1: anti social behavior. 99 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:45,880 Speaker 2: It's really tough, Katie, And you know, the sort of 100 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 2: situations that have beencurring at Casarina for some time just 101 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:52,080 Speaker 2: aren't good enough. You know, we've had workers be threatened 102 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:55,799 Speaker 2: with weapons, We've had workers had food thrown thrown out, 103 00:04:55,839 --> 00:04:58,880 Speaker 2: the many workers who have been victimized and stalked after 104 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:04,200 Speaker 2: work for trying to enforce customer customer behavior, it really 105 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:04,800 Speaker 2: is appalling. 106 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:06,920 Speaker 1: What do you mean victimized in stalled? 107 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:10,720 Speaker 2: So yeah, yeah, absolute to follow to their car identified 108 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:13,400 Speaker 2: out outside of work, and obviously we're making sure that 109 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:17,200 Speaker 2: those reports are given to anti police. But we are 110 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:20,880 Speaker 2: really concerned about the ongoing situation at Casarina Square, not 111 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:24,000 Speaker 2: just there, but lots of retail outlets across across the territory. 112 00:05:24,040 --> 00:05:26,160 Speaker 2: We are really pleased there has been some action here. 113 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:28,320 Speaker 2: I mean, it would be great if it wasn't necessary, 114 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:31,360 Speaker 2: but the idea that these fighting events continue to occur, 115 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:33,560 Speaker 2: the sort of swarming that's occurring at that center by 116 00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:39,040 Speaker 2: students from these two schools is completely unacceptable. The trespass 117 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:42,719 Speaker 2: changes will help. It will give a legal right to 118 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 2: retailers and shopping centers to ban unruly customers for up 119 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:50,400 Speaker 2: to twelve months. That's a really good thing. And then 120 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:54,839 Speaker 2: breaching that that trespass will be a criminal offense. That's 121 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 2: currently not the case under our trespass laws. So that's 122 00:05:57,920 --> 00:06:01,440 Speaker 2: a huge step forward. But the fact this is continuing 123 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:06,320 Speaker 2: to be an issue is truly appalling. Ultimately, the employers 124 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:10,640 Speaker 2: and the shopping center have to take every reasonable step 125 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:13,479 Speaker 2: to keep workers safe. They're required to do that under 126 00:06:13,480 --> 00:06:16,479 Speaker 2: our Work Health and Safety Act. They've taken this measure, 127 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:18,360 Speaker 2: which is good. We've reached out to Casurin a square 128 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:20,520 Speaker 2: in the last few days to meet with them to 129 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:23,159 Speaker 2: really have a look at what other measures should we 130 00:06:23,520 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 2: put in place. We're obviously continuing to communicate with the 131 00:06:26,400 --> 00:06:30,200 Speaker 2: government to say that additional police presence whilst this is 132 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 2: occurring is something that we think will send a really 133 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:36,080 Speaker 2: strong signal that this kind of behavior is just not 134 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:37,040 Speaker 2: going to be tolerated. 135 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:40,800 Speaker 1: Josh, you are indeed the secretary for the SDA here 136 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:43,479 Speaker 1: in the Northern Territory but also South Australia. Are you 137 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:46,280 Speaker 1: seeing any issues in South Australia like what you're seeing 138 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:49,280 Speaker 1: in the territory right now, you know, with what happens 139 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:51,640 Speaker 1: in the shopping centers and those threats. 140 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:55,640 Speaker 2: I think certainly the situation at Casurin it is unique. 141 00:06:55,880 --> 00:07:00,680 Speaker 2: It's particularly concentrated across the country. This is big problem. 142 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:03,200 Speaker 2: Eight eighty five percent of our members report customer violence 143 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:05,600 Speaker 2: or abuse towards them each each year, and that's been 144 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:09,280 Speaker 2: a pretty consistent start. We've had really significant problems recently 145 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:12,000 Speaker 2: in Portagusta and we've been doing some work there, and 146 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:16,120 Speaker 2: there's been ongoing swarming events in many of small Adelaide, 147 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 2: particularly liquocites, So it is something that's consistent. This kind 148 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:25,440 Speaker 2: of crowd behavior by young people, though that's occurring at 149 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:28,760 Speaker 2: Casuarina is particularly unique. We're not seeing things like that 150 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:32,000 Speaker 2: similar in other states and territories right now. It does 151 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 2: happen from time to time. That's why we're saying swift 152 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 2: action is really necessary here. Let's stamp it out and 153 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 2: make sure this stops and that these young people start 154 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:47,080 Speaker 2: treating each other and workers and the community with respect. 155 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, one hundred percent. People deserve to be able to 156 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:51,320 Speaker 1: go to work and feel safe and not have to 157 00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:55,160 Speaker 1: worry about being threatened, and they certainly deserve to not 158 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:57,640 Speaker 1: have to be worried about being followed to their cars 159 00:07:57,640 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 1: for example, Like that's appalling. 160 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:02,120 Speaker 2: I mean, I've got to remember that retail workers are 161 00:08:02,120 --> 00:08:05,520 Speaker 2: just serving the community. They are often really exposed. They're 162 00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:08,400 Speaker 2: in our view there in many cases there aren't strong 163 00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:12,560 Speaker 2: enough security presence that protect them. And the idea that 164 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:15,560 Speaker 2: they can be enforcing say a bag check or telling 165 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 2: someone no, you cannot take that weapon into a store, 166 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:21,000 Speaker 2: that then later on in the day they'll see that 167 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:23,400 Speaker 2: person who they know had a weapon. It is an 168 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:27,920 Speaker 2: incredibly confronting and terrifying experience and it's not something that 169 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:31,360 Speaker 2: workers should have to put up with and we really 170 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:35,600 Speaker 2: are looking for some strong action here because retil workers 171 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:36,880 Speaker 2: deserve to feel safe. 172 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:41,160 Speaker 1: Well. Josh Peek, the Secretary of the SDA here in 173 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:44,160 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory and also in South Australia, really appreciate 174 00:08:44,160 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 1: your time this morning. Thanks so much for coming in. 175 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:47,120 Speaker 2: Thanks Gudie, thank you.