WA Government Seeks Feedback on Adding Two Public Holidays

The Western Australian government is considering adding two new public holidays, including officially recognizing Easter Saturday and introducing a new day off in September, to align with states like Victoria and the Northern Territory. Additionally, there are proposals to shift WA Day away from winter and to synchronize existing public holidays with those observed in other Australian states to reduce confusion for businesses and improve productivity. Premier Roger Cook emphasized the importance of aligning holidays to support WA’s economic role and to ensure workers receive comparable entitlements to other states. However, the proposals have met resistance from business groups concerned about the financial impact of penalty rates on small businesses. Unions advocate for more holidays to improve workers’ family time and well-being. A public consultation is currently open for feedback, with any changes not expected to take effect before 2027.