Western Australia is set to add two new public holidays!

WA Premier Roger Cook announced on Saturday a major update that will affect all residents of the state—the public holiday schedule will undergo significant changes. Not only will two new holidays be introduced, but three existing holidays will also be shifted to new dates. These changes are expected to officially take effect in 2028.

The biggest highlight is the addition of two new holidays.

The first is Easter Saturday, which will now join Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday as official public holidays in WA. This gives people a longer stretch of time off during Easter to reunite with family and friends or travel.

The second is a brand-new Show Day, which will fall on the first Monday of the September–October school holidays. Local councils will also have the flexibility to schedule Show Day on a different September date to better suit their communities, providing greater convenience for regional events and activities.

Alongside the new holidays, several existing dates will be shifted for better alignment with other states, reducing inconveniences caused by inconsistent calendars.

Labour Day will move to the second Monday of March, in line with most other states.

Election Day in WA election years will shift to the third Monday of March to avoid clashing with long weekends.

King’s Birthday, currently held in late September during Royal Show week, will be moved to the second Monday of June, consistent with other states.

Western Australia Day will move from June to the second Monday of November.

Currently, WA has one of the lowest numbers of public holidays in Australia, with 11 days—equal to NSW. In comparison, Victoria, the NT, and the ACT each have 13, while Tasmania, Queensland, and South Australia have 12.

The Public and Bank Holidays Amendment Bill 2025 is expected to be introduced in WA Parliament this week, paving the way for these changes.

#02: Mixed Reactions to the Changes

The response to these holiday changes has been divided.

Premier Roger Cook highlighted that when the government first proposed the reforms earlier this year, they received “overwhelming” public support. In his interview with The Sunday Times, he emphasized:

“We want WA’s economy to remain the strongest in the nation, while also ensuring workers get the rest they deserve.”

He described the reforms as a “win for both families and businesses,” offering people more leisure time while stimulating consumer spending and boosting the economy.

However, many businesses are not as enthusiastic.

With WA’s public holidays increasing from 11 to 13, employers will collectively face an additional $147 million in annual wage costs.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA (CCIWA), the Tourism Council of WA, and the Australian Hotels Association WA all expressed opposition to making Easter Saturday a public holiday.

CCIWA’s Aaron Morey remarked last month:

“Quite frankly, WA businesses simply cannot afford to pay dishwashers an extra $65 an hour for two more days.”

Final Word

For the public, more holidays are certainly welcome news. But for businesses, the changes raise real concerns about higher labor costs. The challenge ahead lies in finding the balance between employee well-being and economic sustainability.