State Government legislates additional public holidays

[12 Sept. 2008]

Ever since the Kennett Liberal Government deregulated shop trading hours on most public holidays our members have been disadvantaged whenever Boxing Day or New Year’s Day fall on a weekend.

Traditionally substitute public holidays applied on the Monday or the Tuesday.  If a State Government doesn’t proclaim additional public holidays, it means our members face the serious risk of being required to work on the real Boxing Day or the real New Year’s Day for the ordinary Saturday or Sunday rate without public holiday penalties and without the right of voluntary work.

In 1999 we campaigned for and successfully won additional public holidays for Boxing Day and New Year’s Day falling on a weekend.  Again in 2004 we successfully campaigned for and won additional public holidays for Boxing Day 2004, New Year’s Day 2005 and New Year’s Day 2006 all falling on a weekend.  This meant that our members were not required to work on Boxing Day or New Year’s Day without the payment of the public holidays penalty rate.

Prior to the 2006 election the Bracks Labor Government promised to legislate to permanently provide additional public holidays whenever Boxing Day or New Year’s Day fall on a weekend.

I am pleased to report that the Labor Government in Victoria has implemented this promise.  The Public Holidays Act has been amended so that when Boxing Day or New Year’s Day fall on a weekend the actual day (26 December and 1 January) is a public holiday, and the following Monday (or Tuesday, as appropriate) is an additional public holiday.

Boxing Day next falls on a Saturday in 2009.

We will review our awards and agreements to amend them to reflect the change in the Act where necessary.