- Changes to Western Australia's public holiday schedule pass the Lower House
- Under proposed laws, WA will get two new public holidays from 2028 - Show Day and Easter Saturday - while dates for three other public holidays will be moved
- Changes will align WA's public holidays with other States, improving productivity
- Ensuring WA remains the best place in the world to live and do business is a key priority of the Cook Government
Legislation to give Western Australians two more public holidays has passed the Lower House.
The changes will see the dates of two public holidays - Labour Day and the King's Birthday- movedto better align WA with other States and Territories and support economic activity and productivity.
In addition, WA Day will move to November, giving Western Australians a break ahead of the Christmas season and ensuring celebrations can be enjoyed outside of winter.
Two new public holidays - Easter Saturday and Show Day - will provide certainty to all Western Australians and ensure workers are paid appropriately on those public holidays.
The changes were drafted after extensive community consultation, including more than 10,000 submissions from businesses, not-for-profit organisations, peak bodies, unions and members of the broader community.
The Bill will now be introduced into the Upper House, where the Government calls on the Opposition to support the Bill in full and ensure the two-year implementation period can take place before the new calendar begins in 2028.
This time will ensure a smooth transition and give small businesses, organisations and governments and the broader WA community the opportunity to plan ahead and make the necessary administrative arrangements.
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
"My government is modernising WA's public holiday calendar, following clear, broad support from the Western Australian community.
"These changes are better suited to modern life in our State.
"We're creating two new public holidays - Easter Saturday and Show Day - and aligning three other public holidays with other States, to help boost productivity.
"I look forward to the Parliament passing these new public holidays for every Western Australian soon, so work can get underway transitioning to our new calendar in 2028."
As stated by Parliamentary Secretary Daniel Pastorelli:
"This new public holiday schedule was developed after extensive public consultation. It strikes the right balance and has strong public support from the people of Western Australia.
"These changes will guarantee those essential workers who have to work will be recognised.
"Claims by members of the Opposition that no one works on Easter Saturday demonstrates how out of touch they are.
"The Opposition Leader tried three times to deny Western Australians the Easter Saturday public holiday.
"The Opposition must ensure these laws are passed to give the Western Australian community certainty and commit to retaining the new calendar of holidays."
