Commercial encroachment has gradually eroded leisure time and we are fast approaching 24/7 shopping. The only question is - do we still want to preserve Christmas day and Anzac day ?
The state government is considering a request from the giant K-Mart group to open their stores on Anzac day morning.
Anzac day used to be an entire day free of commercial opening, but pressure from retailers resulted in shops opening for business from I pm.
Now there is pressure to regard Anzac day as just another, normal trading day and staff can forget attending the march and various services that pay tribute to the military history of this country - and the men and women who died in it's defence.
It seems that the frenetic needs of the commercial world to chase that ever elusive profit dollar takes no consideration of the needs of their employees.
To many, Anzac day is sacred. If the wish to open stores is granted it will inevitably lead to pressure from the rest of the shopping world to follow. To refuse to work on that day as a matter of principle would stunt many a promising career path.
The decision rests with the government.
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