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Queensland will not mark Anzac Day with a weekday public holiday, with Premier David Crisafulli ruling commemorations will remain on the Saturday of April 25.
The national day of military remembrance falls on a Saturday this year, prompting several states and territories, including NSW, Western Australia and the ACT, to move the official public holiday to the following Monday.
On Sunday, Crisafulli confirmed his government’s decision not to follow suit.
“I do believe that it’s really important that people do keep that day as being sacrosanct … It’s about making sure that we honour those servicemen and women, and that is a really special day for the nation, and I think it’s important that we do it on that day.”
Greens MP Michael Berkman, who posed the question of moving the observed public holiday during question time in parliament last week, said the government didn’t “have a good reason” for the state having one fewer public holidays this year.
“Queensland already moves the Anzac Day public holiday when the 25th falls on a Sunday. If [NSW] can do it, why can’t we?” Berkman told this masthead.
“Nobody is suggesting we move Anzac Day or associated services from the 25th, we’re just saying Monday should be a public holiday.
“Queenslanders are working harder than ever. They deserve a break from work and an opportunity to commemorate Anzac Day.”
In Queensland, if a public holiday falls on a Sunday it is observed on the following Monday. That rule does not apply to most public holidays falling on Saturdays.
Information on the state government website, however, states that if the Australia Day public holiday were to fall on a Saturday or Sunday it would be observed the following Monday.
Queenslanders interviewed by this masthead were torn whether this was the right decision for the state.
“You’ve got the Saturday to march, you’ve got Sunday to reflect, do you really need Monday? There’s for and against in it all, and I’d hate to think that people only look at it as a free day,” Ray Donovan said.
Sandstone Point retiree Brian Boyd didn’t think it was necessary to have more public holidays, saying there were “more than enough” on the calendar.
Local James Warhurst thought all states and territories should take a united stance, and he didn’t think an additional holiday would detract from the date’s importance.
“We should all be united together over Anzac Day, not divide the country … either we do or we don’t. But I think we should have Monday off.”
There were 10 public holidays, including Ekka holiday, on this year’s calendar.
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