Wodonga’s High Street businesses are defying the odds and will try to kick a goal by opening their doors on the AFL grand final eve public holiday in Victoria.
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Jannoel Florist's Emma Dixon will fly solo in her shop after deciding to trade on the contentious public holiday introduced by the Andrews Labor government.
She will be joined by other Wodonga main street businesses including Sportfirst in trying to stop the drain of retail dollars across to Albury as a result of the Victoria-only holiday.
Ms Dixon said she couldn't afford to close due to having Albury-based customers and being part of the online Interflora system which offered same day delivery.
"It is a new public holiday so we are not sure what is going to happen," she said.
"A lot of us don't employ a great number of staff.
"You are paying rent on High Street which is expensive enough.
”Why interrupt your cashflow for a day when you could be working and potentially making money?"
The business as usual approach by High Street traders aligns with a member survey conducted by Wodonga chamber of commerce about the holiday.
Of the 90-plus members to complete the survey, 77 per cent said they would open.
Chamber business manager Bernie Squire said some businesses, including aged care providers, simply couldn't shut and would have to wear paying staff public holiday penalty rates.
"There are a number of businesses that have to open and all the government has done is added to their cost," he said.
"It is a free kick to places like Albury.
"The downside is business owners who open will be working themselves into the ground."
Ovens Valley MP Tim McCurdy said a survey his office conducted revealed 94 per cent of respondents opposed the holiday.
The survey was largely targeted at small businesses with 60 per cent declaring they would be closing.
"The big losers are people who are employed on a casual basis," he said.
A follow-up survey will measure the holiday impact.
