Mr Simmonds, litigation director of Parker Simmonds Solicitors & Lawyers, said that small businesses especially are only now recovering from the financial impact of COVID and border closures and may sustain financial stress due to the short notice of the announcement. 

“The National Day of Mourning is understandable, but it’s been scheduled before businesses have been able to prepare for it,” said Mr Simmonds.

While Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said as much notice as possible was given for the “one-off occasion”, Mr Simmonds said that for many small businesses, even one extra day of penalty rates could seriously impact their post-COVID recovery.

Mr Simmonds said Mr Albanese might be able to help those affected by the unscheduled public holiday by making grants to those employers capped at $5,000 per business.

“This in no way disrespects her majesty and we understand the complexities of the constitution within Australia and the states and Commonwealth and the great respect that we have for the late Queen and our King,” he said. 

Media reports have cited the sudden announcement of the public holiday as having wide-ranging implications, including fears that elective surgery scheduled for that day will be cancelled.

Retailers are scrambling to agree on trading hours, and restaurants and bars are expected to trade as they would on public holidays.

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Employers will have to pay public holiday rates to their employees, while essential services workers with children have to figure out what they will do as schools are on holiday.

“A government grant to help these businesses through the unexpected but significant day is the way to go,” Mr Simmonds said.