Cafes, restaurants and retail outlets across the Murray and Riverina regions have been asked to join the Easter campaign, which is being led by the NSW Business Chamber.

The Leeton Chamber has jumped on board the campaign and will offers it support wherever it can. 

Murray-Riverina NSW Chamber regional manager Ben Foley was grateful for the support and said it was an issue the community needed to be aware of. 

“Businesses across our region have access to posters to put up in their shop windows – apologising to customers for being closed, or explaining that, while they are open, they are leaning on family members to help serve customers,” Mr Foley said.

“We know this Easter, with its four back-to-back public holidays, will create enormous pressure on the owners of cafes, restaurants and shops across the region.

“(They) want to remain open to serve their customers, but at the same time simply can’t afford to open their doors due to the excessive penalty rates for their staff.”

Mr Foley said the campaign idea was simple.

“The message on the posters is ‘tell Canberra something has to change’,” he said.

“Unless our political leaders are prepared to do something about these excessive penalty rates, cafes, restaurants and shops will remain closed and workers will miss out on wages.

“We are asking people to register their concern via www.toobigtoignore.org.au.”

Mr Foley said the NSW Business Chamber, through its submissions to the Fair Work Commission, does not want to see penalty rates abolished.

“We believe that sensible penalty rates should be paid for certain weekend and public holiday times, however it’s ridiculous that penalty rates are now so excessive that businesses are forced to close to avoid making losses,” he said.

“Many of the towns across the Murray-Riverina will be like ghost towns this coming Easter weekend because business owners have come to the realisation that they’ll lose money if they open.

“This has a devastating impact on towns and communities, as visitors will have no capacity to spend money, and workers miss out on an income.

“No-one wins in this situation.

“The excessive cost of employing staff remains the number one issue for business owners across NSW.

“This has a direct correlation to the unacceptably high levels of youth unemployment in many parts of our state, including right here in the Murray-Riverina.”

Leeton residents have been encouraged to offer their support to the campaign at a local level throughout this week.