Govt ‘not helping Darwin business’
DARWIN City was teeming with visitors last weekend but the city’s business operators and its workers missed out, according to Darwin City Retailers Association general manager Andrea Wicking.
In an opinion column in the Sunday Territorian, Ms Wicking said all sorts of businesses were also being targeted for break-ins.
“It appears it has become somewhat of a lawless place, but not in a pioneering spirit way,” she said.
“The impact of damage to the shops, loss of stock, the shattering of confidence and the psychological impact is detrimental for small businesses wishing to trade.”
Ms Wicking urged the NT government to take action.
“This does not mean directing people to grants to secure their businesses and continue to ignore the problem at hand,” she said.
Despite the NT government insisting it was trying to reduce red tape and improve the Territory’s competitiveness with other states and territories, Ms Wicking said the government had not afforded workers penalty rates across the weekend.
This left many venues short-staffed. “The city was teeming the visitors and the offering was less than normal. Those who remained open did great business, but there was a lack of supply,” she said.
It comes after a bumper Easter weekend for tourism and hospitality operators, which was marred by staff shortages.
Many venues were forced to either seat fewer people or close for quieter days to ensure they had enough staff.
Alice Springs tourism operators reported a decent crowd due to Parrtjima festival, while hotels and restaurants in Darwin and Katherine also saw strong business.
Previous dry seasons have been marred by Covid disruptions. It is hoped this year’s season will not be disrupted by border closures.
WE are about the workers …
On Monday, May 2 Territorians will indulge in yet another public holiday, on this occasion to celebrate May Day.
Since the late 1800s this day commemorates the granting of the eight-hour working day for Australians. The day also recognises workers’ contributions towards the economy.
But who is truly working an eight-hour day any more?
With connectivity and technology making working from home more accessible than ever, there is also an expectation to be always available and, if you are a small-business owner, the eighthour day simply does not exist.
Governments are continually reminding us that they are reducing red tape and making it easier to do business, but are they?
The introduction by the NT Labor government of penalty rates on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve set a precedent, and the recent addition of Easter Sunday in March this year has seen the retail and hospitality industries put their hands up in the air and asking why?
The NT government assures us they are bringing the Territory into alignment with other jurisdictions and protecting the rights of workers who work weekends.
But is it? Last weekend there were many businesses in these sectors that closed for the four days due to the wages being too high and needing a break from the relentless impact of Covid and the staffing shortage.
Yet who were the losers?
The thousands of casual workers this sector relies on. Instead of receiving penalty rates, they received nothing.
The small business community who employ locals and are already facing many challenges.
The city was teeming the visitors and the offering was less than normal. Those who remained open did great business, but there was a lack of supply.
About the Easter weekend, the government and the media couldn’t wait to tell us how it was a bumper weekend with many domestic visitors.
This is the thing: if you want to attract tourists, you need to have a city that is open and available.
Darwin needs to know what it wants to be and ensure we can meet expectations of those visiting.
Darwin needs to provide the full experience to those visiting, at any time of the year.
The full experience of Darwin now includes witnessing the escalating anti-social behaviour and crime. Everyone is talking about it, including the tourists, but not the government.
There is a fair expectation that visitors should feel safe. Remember, we also have a government that is concerned about workers. It is a fair expectation that they too feel safe on their way to work, at work, and on their way home.
The anti-social behaviour has been around for too long, and a welcomed reprieve was felt around the city in 2020 with Covid.
Yet here we are, at any time of the day, witnessing throughout our city what is deemed unacceptable behaviour: humbugging, begging, drunk, aggressive and violent behaviour, and no-go zones.
It appears it has become somewhat of a lawless place, but not in a pioneering spirit way.
This is not to mention the harassment and stealing that occurs in our local retailers.
Prior to 2020, hospitality businesses were being broken into for the alcohol. We are now seeing all types of businesses being targeted throughout the city including juice bars, boutiques, and jewellery shops.
The impact of damage to the shops, loss of stock, the shattering of confidence and the psychological impact is detrimental for small businesses wishing to trade.
The Darwin City Retailers Association is seeking an urgent call to action from the government.
This does not mean directing people to grants to secure their businesses while continuing to ignore the problem at hand.
It is about learning to read the room, listening, understanding, not being dismissive and looking at alternatives to start making the city a safer place for locals and visitors alike.
Make this a city that we all fall in love with, again.