The ACT Government has confirmed it will seek to avoid a repeat of Monday's confusion over a replacement Anzac Day public holiday for territory directorate workers through changes to industrial agreements.
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Disruption around Canberra frustrated most Commonwealth public servants, private sector workers and families as territory workers enjoyed a day-in-lieu after Saturday's Anzac centenary commemorations.
Territory directorate workers, some federal public servants, ACT public school teachers and some other groups had a day off, as part of a longstanding industrial provision for a day-in-lieu when Anzac Day falls on a weekend.
Adding to the problems around the city were limited ACTION bus services operating Monday routes, as the network reverted to a standard Saturday timetable.
Public transport passengers left waiting for less regular buses and Canberrans parking in the parliamentary triangle were perhaps worst hit. Some drivers received fines of $97 for not paying for parking, despite a government spokesman warning eweekday parking rules and charges would apply on April 27.
Commuters used social media to vent their frustrations stemming from the temporary changes, targeting government Twitter accounts and Chief Minister Andrew Barr.
The problem won't emerge again until Anzac Day 2020, which will also be on a Saturday.
On Tuesday, a spokesman for Mr Barr confirmed the government would seek to alter the ACT public service employment agreement during the next round of negotiations.
The spokesman stressed any such move would require the agreement of both the government and workers.
Industrial agreements are renegotiated about every three years.
Mr Barr took part in a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
Earlier this week, Territory and Municipal Services Minister Shane Rattenbury said
"We were closely monitoring social media and had a few spare buses in capacity to deal with any pressure points that came up," Mr Rattenbury told Canberra's ABC radio.
"Extra buses were dispatched to particular places where people indicated there were problems. The proposal is that it be removed from the enterprise agreements by the time it would occur again."
The criticism came after many commuters attending Anzac commemoration ceremonies at the Australian War Memorial found it difficult to use crowded public transport services.
The record 120,000-strong crowd overwhelmed the bus system, leaving some potential passengers stranded.
Mr Rattenbury told a sustainable transport event at the ACT Legislative Assembly on Tuesday night that paid parking in the parliamentary triangle, introduced last year, had already increased ACTION boarding numbers by an average of 1500 passengers each day.
