{"id":42395,"date":"2013-08-26T18:26:06","date_gmt":"2013-08-26T08:26:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=42395"},"modified":"2020-09-11T13:57:37","modified_gmt":"2020-09-11T03:57:37","slug":"holiday-debate-not-over-yet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2013\/08\/26\/holiday-debate-not-over-yet\/","title":{"rendered":"Holiday Debate Not Over Yet"},"content":{"rendered":"
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South Burnett Mayor Wayne Kratzmann (Photo: SBRC)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

August 26, 2013<\/strong><\/p>\n

South Burnett Mayor Wayne Kratzmann disputes the fact the debate over changing the Ekka Show Holiday is over … in fact, he believes the discussion has barely begun.<\/p>\n

Mayor Kratzmann said he didn’t agree with his fellow councillor Barry Green who told a radio interviewer this week the idea had gone over “like a lead balloon”.<\/p>\n

“I think it deserves at least a discussion. I don’t think the facts have got out fully to the people yet,” he said.<\/p>\n

Mayor Kratzmann said he thought it would be presumptuous to assume all residents were against the idea of shifting the holiday on the basis of a “few naysayers” who spoke to councillors in the street.<\/p>\n

He saw the holiday as an opportunity for the South Burnett.<\/p>\n

This was one public holiday that the Council had the choice of allocating.<\/p>\n

“Every other one is set by the Federal or State Governments,” Mayor Kratzmann said.<\/p>\n

“Instead of seven people sitting around a table and making a decision after 20 seconds of discussion, we should have the discussion with the public, take it to the people and get some options.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mayor Kratzmann said in the past people valued long weekends but these days with RDOs (rostered days off) it was not as important to have Mondays off.<\/p>\n

“We are given that day because of the Ekka, but what percentage of people would use that day to actually go to the Ekka?” he said.<\/p>\n

“If there was one in 50 who went, I would be surprised.”<\/p>\n

The show day could be allocated by Council to any day throughout the year.<\/p>\n

Mayor Kratzmann said Council had never suggested the day be moved to the Wednesday of Ekka week (People’s Day).<\/p>\n

“That would be crazy,” he said.<\/p>\n

“I haven’t got an alternative but I have heard days suggested like Melbourne Cup Day.<\/p>\n

“Surely as a council we could consult with the people of the South Burnett before we put our hands up.”<\/p>\n

He would also like to talk to local businesses and Chambers of Commerce to get their opinions.<\/p>\n

“What really gets up my nose is the \u00a02 per cent of naysayers out there who are really negative and just want to stick it up council,” he said.<\/p>\n

“Surely we can have a debate where Council doesn’t get abused for it?<\/p>\n

“Council has to be above (reacting) to the noisy wheel.”<\/p>\n

Mayor Kratzmann said he would like to conduct a straw poll about the holiday:<\/strong><\/p>\n

A. Leave it as it is
\nB. Shift it to Melbourne Cup Day
\nC. Wednesday of Ekka week (People’s Day)
\nD. Some other day of significance to the South Burnett<\/p>\n

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