West Australians can anticipate additions to their holiday calendars after Premier Roger Cook announced plans to introduce legislation in parliament next week to change the state’s public holidays.

Mr Cook said the changes were an attempt to align WA with the rest of the nation, and would mean two new public holidays.

“These changes will make life easier for families and businesses, and the state will be much better,” Mr Cook said.

Mr Cook says the changes will modernise the state’s calendar. (ABC News: Keane Bourke)

Easter Saturday will be recognised as a public holiday to align with the rest of the nation, with WA being the only state that does not formally recognise the day as a public holiday.

The second addition of public holidays is Show Day, which will mark the start of the September/October school holidays, with a definitive date yet to be decided.

It’s expected Show Day will coincide with the first week of the school holidays in line with the Perth Royal Show. (ABC News: Kenith Png)

There will also be changes to three of the state’s existing public holidays, which include Labour Day, WA Day and the King’s Birthday.

Adjustment period

Mr Cook said the proposed changes would take a couple of years to introduce to allow businesses and organisations to make any necessary adjustments.

“Subject to the passage of the legislation by the end of 2025, the new schedule is expected to take effect in 2028 allowing for two-year implementation period,” Mr Cook said.

An additional Easter Saturday public holiday is on the cards. (ABC News: Briana Shepherd)

The changes include moving three of the state’s existing public holidays.

WA Day will move from being celebrated in June to the second Monday of November for the better weather, Mr Cook said.

Premier Cook and Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti attend a recent WA Day celebration. (ABC News: Kenith Png)

The King’s Birthday, usually in September, will be moved to the second Monday of June.

Labour Day, which currently falls on the first day of March, will be changed to the second Monday of March, except in years of a state election, in which case it would be the third Monday.

‘Huge impost’ on small business

WA opposition leader Basil Zempilas said public holiday changes would cost West Australian businesses between 150 and 200 million dollars in additional wages each year.

“That is a huge impost on those small businesses, which are the lifeblood of WA and it’s going to be a huge impost on those families to be able to make that commitment,” Mr Zempilas said.

The opposition leader is worried about negative results for small business. (ABC News: Courtney Withers)

He said the Easter Saturday public holiday would be “particularly problematic” for small businesses.

“The cost of opening on that Saturday with the increased wages, I know means many pubs, clubs and venues of that kind will not open, and that includes restaurants and cafes because the additional impost of having to pay those public holiday wages is going to mean it just doesn’t stack up.”

Parents on how they manage leave and school holidays

Parents share their experiences on managing work and school holidays with limited leave. 

While Mr Zempilas said he understood a desire for public holidays to better align with the eastern states, he said there were other priorities that should be focused on.

“The burning issues are getting enough houses built, the burning issues are fixing our hospitals, getting the lead out of the water at PCH, bringing ambulance ramping down and finding enough beds for our aged population,” he said.

“Nobody’s walking around saying we’ve got to get those public holidays fixed.”

‘Disappointing’ development

Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA chief economist Aaron Morey said the new public holidays were “disappointing” given the cost on small and family businesses.

“This increases the wage bills for those businesses considerably, I mean, look at 250 per cent above award, it’s an incredibly high burden on small business owners,” Mr Morey said.

“It puts a significant decision in front of them, whether they work in the business themselves, whether they open the business at all.”

Mr Morey plans to work with the government to reduce pressures on small businesses. (ABC News: Mya Kordic)

Mr Morey said the chamber would now work with the government to identify ways to relieve pressure on small businesses.

“The most direct way that government can help those small and family businesses is by reducing the payroll tax burden,” he said.

“The payroll tax burden in WA is the highest in the country, it’s an easy, direct lever that the government can pull.”

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