Cook Government proposing making huge changes to public holidays in WA
The Sunday Times can reveal the Government will invite feedback on the Easter Saturday proposal and canvass support for an additional weekday public holiday, in a four-week public consultation period.
The changes would mean West Australians get 13 public holidays a calendar year, instead of 11, bringing the State into line with Victoria, the Northern Territory and the ACT.
Other options the Government is presenting include permanently moving WA Day from June to November and changing the Labour Day and King's Birthday public holiday dates to align with those in the eastern states.
Any changes to public holidays are proposed to come into effect in 2027 or 2028.
But Premier Roger Cook promises no changes will be made without public input, announcing an on-line and stakeholder public consultation period, which begins today.
'Western Australia is the engine room of the national economy, and I want to keep it that way,' he said.
'What I've often heard from the business community is that better alignment between WA public holidays and the east coast public holidays would be good for productivity.
'And what I've often heard from members of our broader community is that they'd like to see more public holidays, and a broader spread.'
Mr Cook said opening the consultation up to the public showed it was not a decision that would be taken lightly.
'This consultation will not only allow us to better understand what Western Australians want to see happen with public holidays going forward but also gather the information we need to make sure we get the balance right,' he said.
WA is the only mainland State that does not observe Easter Saturday as a public holiday.
WA Day — now marked in June — would be held annually in November, to coincide with the yearly West Test at Optus Stadium.
The King's Birthday public holiday, now in late September as part of Royal Show week, would be shifted to June in line with all other States and Territories bar Queensland.
And a new public holiday could be created in September. What that new public holiday would be called or what event it commemorates will be up for discussion, with the survey to ask West Australians for their verdict.
Meanwhile, though Labour Day in the WA falls in the first week of March, Victoria and Tasmania observe it on the second Monday in March.
National holidays such as Anzac Day, Australia Day, Christmas and Boxing Day won't change.
The State Government will also invite direct feedback from business and other groups, and the Premier's Parliamentary secretary Daniel Pastorelli will meet directly with other key groups — like the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Australian Hotels Associaiton, unions and the Royal Agricultural Society of WA — to further discuss the potential changes.
While many will rejoice in having extra public holidays, business owners who choose to open their doors on holidays will be faced with paying higher rates of pay to workers who agree to work on those days.
Surcharges would also be likely be put on items like takeaway and dine in coffees.
'Any changes to our public holiday calendar need to ensure Western Australians get an even spread throughout the year,' Mr Pastorelli said.
'It's also important we get the balance right, so the workers get the break they deserve, and economic activity continues to thrive here in WA.'
Feedback is invited until August 8 at
wa.gov.au/public-holiday-review
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