Australia's Victorian leader defends costs of extra public holidays

Australia's Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has defended his decision to award Victorians an extra two public holidays this year despite the estimated 650 million U.S. dollars it will cost the state's economy.

Before the Victorian election last November, the state government, led by Andrews, promised the public an extra two public holidays over the calendar year, on Easter Sunday and the Friday before the Australian Football League (AFL) Grand Final, held each spring at the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground).

Andrews on Thursday said he would make good on his election promise.

"There are plenty of people who don't like the public holidays, " he said on Melbourne radio. "But we took these commitments to the election."

"We said we'd do this and we are doing it."

Fairfax media reported on Wednesday last week the extra holidays would cost the Victorian economy almost 1 billion Australian dollars (650 million U.S. dollars), according to an impact statement commissioned by leading accountancy firm, Pricewaterhouse Coopers.

Even when the subsequent economic benefits of the holidays were factored in, such as the increase to public spending during both days, the net loss totalled 330 million U.S. dollars.

Andrews believed the figures had given voice to those who opposed Australia's penalty rate system, which compensates employees for working nights, weekends and public holidays.

"There are a couple of people who don't like penalty rates at all .. and are using this as a proxy, if you like, to have the debate," he said.

"They think we live to work.."

The two recent public holiday additions brought Victoria's total to 13, the most of any state within Australia.

The premier, however, did not rule out reconsidering the matter altogether. "I'm really confident that it will be (successful), but let's wait and see how it goes," Andrews said. Endi