[Janelle Ward]

Most of Victoria has 11 public holidays, other states and territories have nine or 10. Now, international policy thinktank the Lowy Institute is arguing that our multicultural society should add more to that annual swag.

China, India and the Philippines head our top five countries of birth (excluding Australia) and one in 10 Aussies has a religion other than Christianity.

The Lowy Institute says that given our increasingly diverse population, we should be recognising many other significant cultural and religious days as public holidays.

It says: “There has already been discussion about making Diwali a public holiday and given Australia already likes to boast that Sydney has one of the largest Lunar New Year celebrations outside of Asia, it seems like a no-brainer to embrace them as Australian public holidays.

“In an era where concerns about illiberalism and intolerance across the globe are growing, it would be a powerful symbolic statement from a Western liberal democracy.”

The institute argues that more public holidays would create a greater sense of unity by “encouraging greater societal understanding of different beliefs and practices”.

Do you support that idea? Should we be marking major days in other religions with national public holidays?

[ronloby]

NO. If you become an Australian Citizen then you abide by Australian Laws and Customs. Religion should not decide on holidays regardless of which following is observed. Christmas and Easter holidays are not just followed here in Australia, they are worldwide.

[KSS]

You do realise that Christmas and Easter – 2 of the most important sets of public holidays are Christian based right? That is, public holidays decided by religion. I do agree that migrants to Australia should abide by the prevailing customs and traditions. If not we risk losing them completely over time. Is this what people really want?

[Couldabeen]

As ronloby says, No. Everyone who has come to Australia to live has come because it offers more than their previous country of residence. They must be prepared to take Australia, regardless of which State they have chosen to live in, as it is at it’s core. What it is at it’s core is what has made Australia a country desirous of moving to. It is up to them to adapt to the prevailing social construct than try to change to what they have left behind. Privately they may do what they like (within our existing Laws, that give equality to all), but it is inappropriate to attempt to have a minority enforce a change on the majority.
As it is, many businesses suffer economically having to pay staff for multiple non-productive days. In essence paying for two extra weeks of annual leave above the award four weeks.
Life’s easy when you don’t have to pay the bills.

[Diane Claus]

So, would people get NAIDOC week off work?
Some examples of religious holidays that are not recognised as public holidays in Australia include Ramadan, Diwali and Lunar New Year. Would people get these days off too? Maybe we all should have all these public hoildays off too.

Sunday January 1: New Year’s Day
Monday January 2: New Year holiday
Wednesday January 11: Devonport Cup for Tasmania
Thursday January 26: Australia Day
February 2023
Monday February 13: Royal Hobart Regatta for Tasmania
Wednesday February 22: Launceston Cup for Tasmania
March 2023
Monday March 6: Labour Day for WA
Tuesday March 7: King Island Show for Tasmania
Monday March 13: Canberra Day for ACT, Eight Hours Day for Tasmania, Labour Day for Victoria and Adelaide Cup Day for SA

April 2023
Maximise your annual leave in April to take a total of nineteen days off. If you schedule ten days off between April 11 – 24, you can be on holiday from Good Friday to Anzac Day.
With the right planning you can take a total of nineteen days off. If you schedule ten days off between Tuesday 11th – Monday 24th of April you can book in a substantial holiday.
Friday April 7: Good Friday
Saturday April 8: day following Good Friday (except Tasmania and WA)
Sunday April 9: Easter Sunday for nation (except Tasmania, SA and NT)
Monday April 10: Easter Monday
Tuesday April 11: Easter Tuesday for Tasmania
Tuesday April 25: Anzac Day
May 2023
Monday May 1: Labour Day for Queensland and May Day for NT
Friday May 5: Agfest for Tasmania
Monday May 29: Reconciliation Day for ACT

Monday June 5: Western Australia Day for WA
Monday June 12: King’s Birthday (except Queensland and WA)
July 2023
Friday July 7: Alice Springs Show Day for NT
Friday June 14: Tennant Creek Show Day for NT
Friday July 21: Katherine Dhow Day for NT
Friday July 28: Darwin Show Day for NT
August 2023
Monday August 7: Picnic Day for NT
Wednesday August 16: Ekka for Queensland
Friday August 18: Borroloola Show Day for NT

September 2023
Monday September 25: King’s Birthday for WA
Date TBC: AFL Grand Final Day for Victoria
October 2023
Monday October 2: Labour Day for ACT, NSW and SA, King’s Birthday for Queensland
Friday October 6: Burnie Show for Tasmania
Thursday October 12: Royal Launceston Show for Tasmania
Friday October 20: Flinders Island Show for Tasmania
Thursday October 26: Royal Hobart Show for Tasmania
November 2023
Monday November 6: Recreation Day for Tasmania
Tuesday November 7: Melbourne Cup Day for Victoria
December 2023
After Boxing Day take three days of annual leave. That way you can lock in a ten day holiday to cruise through to the end of the year.
Friday December 1: Devonport Show for Tasmania
Sunday December 24: Christmas Eve (part-day public holiday from 7pm to midnight) for Queensland, SA and NT)
Monday December 25: Christmas Day
Tuesday December 26: Boxing Day (Proclamation Day for SA)
Wednesday December 27: Christmas holiday (Boxing Day holiday for NT and WA, Proclamation Day for SA).
Sunday December 31: New Year’s Eve for SA and NT

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