Westfield Knox has just announced that staff will have to pay for parking starting soon, along with customers, after decades of it being free for everyone. 

While this practice is not that uncommon, it seems rather insulting to charge the workers of the shopping centre who actually keep it running and bringing in the customers. 

The rate will be $5 a day for parking over 4 hours, however, almost no worker’s shift is less than that, so this free period will almost never be useful during a work day. 

$5 may not be a lot, but is fairly significant for many, especially the younger workers who earn significantly less per hour and make up a large proportion of the staff at Knox. During the current cost of living crisis, $5 is significant. 

Furthermore, designated staff parking areas have been limited to the most distant locations, including ‘The Cage’ on the Eastern side of the centre. To be charged for parking so far away from work seems almost criminal, with no cover from the weather when walking back to your car late at night from working in the Ozone. Also, many workers will feel quite unsafe walking this far in the dark late at night, with locations like the Sporting Globe and other bars, there are some threatening intoxicated customers late at night which even in the parking’s current state, make workers feel unsafe. A shuttle bus service used to be an option, perhaps this is required at the least, to ensure the safety of the workers. 

If you are a worker at Westfield Knox, or just a local, please sign this if you agree! It’s unlikely anything will come from it considering it seems Westfield’s only concern is profit, but I think it is important to demonstrate how unhappy this change will make the staff.