The New South Wales government is actively considering the introduction of an additional public holiday when Anzac Day occurs on a weekend. This potential move would bring NSW into alignment with the Australian Capital Territory and Western Australia, which already observe such provisions.
Premier Minns Leads the Examination
NSW Premier Chris Minns has confirmed that his government is thoroughly examining whether the state should observe a public holiday on the Monday following Anzac Day when the commemorative date falls on either a Saturday or Sunday. Both this year and next year, April 25 will indeed occur on a weekend, making this consideration particularly timely and relevant for planning purposes.
Business Community Voices Strong Opposition
The proposal has encountered significant pushback from the business sector, particularly from hospitality operators. The Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association has articulated clear concerns about the financial impact of an additional public holiday.
"Opening on a public holiday can cost small businesses up to 250 per cent in wages," the association stated emphatically. "This means that 75 to 100 per cent of the day's revenue goes directly to staff payments."
The association has previously explained that hospitality businesses often face customer backlash when implementing necessary surcharges on public holidays. They emphasize that these surcharges are not about price gouging but rather about maintaining operational viability.
"Public holiday surcharges are fundamentally about keeping doors open, paying people fairly, and giving communities somewhere to go on their day off," the association clarified. "When customers see a 10 to 15 per cent surcharge, that represents the actual cost of doing business on these days, not additional profit for the business."
Commemorative Concerns and Divided Opinions
Beyond economic considerations, there are significant commemorative concerns regarding the proposal. Remembrance Day services would continue to take place on April 25 regardless of which day of the week it falls, and Premier Minns has emphasized that any final decision would require thorough consultation with the Returned and Services League (RSL).
The proposal has created divided opinions within the community. Some critics argue that observing a public holiday on the Monday following Anzac Day could potentially detract from the solemnity of the occasion itself.
Sydney Recital Hall director Scott Phillips expressed this perspective clearly on social media platform X: "I have no issue with another public holiday in general. But ANZAC Day is not an excuse for a day off work. It's a day of commemoration."
"There is no justification for a Monday off based on reflection about sacrifice and loss," Phillips continued. "If we need another public holiday, it should be added somewhere else in the calendar."
Current National Inconsistency
Australia currently lacks a uniform national approach to this issue. Only the ACT and Western Australia consistently allow an additional public holiday when Anzac Day occurs on a weekend. Queensland provides a more nuanced approach, granting a Monday off only if Anzac Day falls on a Sunday, but not if it falls on a Saturday.
Sunrise commentator Luke Bona echoed the concerns about maintaining the day's significance, stating that he believes extra Anzac Day public holidays "detract from how special that day is."
Supporters Advocate for Family Considerations
Proponents of consistent recognition argue that an extra public holiday would allow families to properly honour diggers without the stress of weekend commitments. This is particularly important for those attending dawn services with young children, who face early morning preparations.
Sunrise commentator Cath Webber articulated this perspective: "A lot of people might imply that you're having it off because you've had too many rum and milks and too much two-up, but it's not that."
"For many families, when you have groceries to manage, children to care for, and need to pull little ones out of bed at 3am to attend the march, a public holiday gives people time to clear the entire day," Webber explained. "This dedicated time allows proper remembrance of our diggers without competing weekend obligations."
NSW's Current Public Holiday Position
Currently, New South Wales has the fewest number of public holidays in the country. The implementation of this proposal would increase the state's annual public holidays to 13 days. This would still leave NSW behind several other jurisdictions.
Victoria, Queensland, the ACT, and South Australia already enjoy three to four more public holidays than NSW. The state currently receives only two additional days beyond the ten nationally designated public holidays, making this potential addition particularly significant for workers and businesses alike.
The debate continues as the government balances commemorative respect, business concerns, and worker entitlements in this important consideration.
