Aussies are set to pay $178.9 million in public holiday surcharges this April across the Easter and Anzac Day public holidays. (Source: Getty/Reddit)
Aussies will be slugged with millions of dollars in added fees this long weekend, as the price of visiting a cafe, pub or restaurant goes up. Public holiday surcharges can add as much as 20 per cent to the cost of a meal, and the impost will sting more than usual this year.
Diners are set to pay $129.7 million in public holiday surcharges over this Easter long weekend, according to new analysis by Money.com.au. Aussies will fork out $49.2 million on Easter Saturday alone, which will be the busiest weekend trading day and a public holiday in most states and territories.
Anzac Day falls on a Saturday this year, which is expected to add another $49.2 million in surcharges. In total, Aussies are set to drop $178.9 million across April on surcharges.
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Money.com.au finance expert Sean Callery said the record surcharges would come on top of higher prices some venues have introduced due to rising costs like fuel and wages.
“It’s another cost burden at a time when households are already dealing with rising living expenses,” he said.
“The combined cost of getting out and about, from fuel to dining surcharges, could make staying home a more appealing option for some Australians.”
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The group’s research found 64 per cent of Aussies were planning to avoid cafes and restaurants over the Easter weekend due to public holiday surcharges, while the remaining 36 per cent were undeterred.
Callery said it was important to recognise cafes and restaurants were also under pressure and public holiday surcharges were often the only way they could afford to trade.
Businesses are required to pay penalty rates to staff working on public holidays. Wages typically rise by 225-250 per cent, depending on whether the worker is part-time or casual.
Some Aussie venues are promoting that they won’t be charging any surcharges over the Easter weekend, including Perth cafe Village Cafe and Burgers.
The increased surcharges come as Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association (ARCA) calls on venues to add a temporary fuel surcharge of up to 5 per cent to diners’ bills.
ARCA CEO Wes Lambert said businesses could not absorb the costs being passed on by suppliers.
“Big companies, large suppliers, they are passing on the costs to their customers,” he told Yahoo Finance.
“It’s small restaurants and cafes around the country that are on razor-thin margins that just cannot afford to absorb the increased delivery or minimum purchasing requirements.”
Lambert noted the fuel cost pressures came on top of the RBA’s upcoming ban on credit and debit card surcharges, the Fair Work decision to abolish junior pay rates, and an expected increase to the minimum wage.
Businesses are free to set their own prices, including charging a fuel levy surcharge or a public holiday surcharge. There is no cap on public holiday surcharges.
However, the ACCC notes consumers should be made aware of any surcharges or fees that may apply before they decide to order or purchase goods or services, and surcharges should be displayed in a prominent way.
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