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Christmas Day To Be A Public Holiday In Victoria

24 November 2016

Christmas Day will be a public holiday in Victoria this year, giving Victorians an extra day to spend with their families and friends and giving those who have to work on Christmas the penalty rates they deserve.

Until now, when Christmas Day fell on a weekend the public holiday was substituted to the next available weekday.

This year, Victoria will observe Sunday 25 December as a public holiday in addition to the public holiday set to be observed on Tuesday 27 December.

The move will align Victoria with other states and also other public holidays – such as ANZAC Day and Australia Day, which are observed on the date they fall.

While trading restrictions apply to businesses on Christmas Day, Sunday 25 December, trading restrictions will not apply to the substituted holiday on Tuesday 27 December 2016.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade Philip Dalidakis

“I’ve had time to consider how the existing arrangements unfairly affect those Victorians required to work on Christmas Day when it falls on a weekend – that’s why I’m making this change.”

“Christmas Day is not like any other day, it is a special day for many Victorians and it is a day to spend more time with family and friends.”

“Victoria now aligns with the rest of the country in observing Christmas Day as a public holiday on 25 December.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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