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In Australia, public holidays are recognised in law and are a mix of nationally celebrated days and holidays exclusive to individual jurisdictions. In Western Australia, there are a number of public holidays that fall on a Monday, including Labour Day, Western Australia Day, and the King's Birthday. When a public holiday occurs on a Monday, the three-day period is colloquially known as a long weekend.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | Monday, 2nd June |
| Holiday Name | Western Australia Day |
| Holiday Type | Public Holiday |
| Occurrence | Annual |
| Date Criteria | First Monday in June |
| Alternative Name | WA Day |
| Previous Name | Foundation Day |
| Purpose | Commemorate the founding of the Swan River Colony in 1829 |
| Labour Rights | Right to take the day off with regular pay |
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Western Australia Day
The idea for an annual celebration was conceived by Lieutenant Governor James Stirling in 1832, who chose the date of 1 June to coincide with the planned arrival of the merchant vessel Parmelia, which carried the colony's first settlers. Stirling also intended for the date to recognise the first and greatest British naval victory over the French in 1794, known as the "Glorious First of June".
In 2012, the holiday was renamed Western Australia Day to recognise Aboriginal Australians as the original inhabitants of Western Australia. The legislation emphasised that the new 'State Day' would be inclusive of all people, regardless of how long they had lived in the state.
WA Day celebrations include the Western Australian of the Year Awards, presented on the Friday night before the long weekend, as well as free WA Day Festival events held in metropolitan and regional areas across the state. The day is an opportunity for Western Australians to reflect on and celebrate their state's history, culture, and people.
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Labour Day
In Western Australia, Labour Day is observed on the first Monday in March. It is a public holiday, and therefore a non-working day for many, with workers receiving full paid leave. Those who do work on Labour Day receive additional penalty rates of pay, usually 2.5 times the base rate.
The date of Labour Day is not fixed in the calendar, and when it occurs on a Monday, the three-day period is colloquially known as a "long weekend".
Western Australia Day, formerly known as Foundation Day, is another public holiday in Western Australia, celebrated on the first Monday in June each year. This day commemorates the founding of the Swan River Colony in 1829.
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Public holiday pay
In Western Australia, public holidays include New Year's Day, Australia Day, Labour Day, Western Australia Day, King's Birthday, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. When a public holiday falls on a weekend, the following Monday is also a public holiday.
In Western Australia, employees who work on public holidays are entitled to receive public holiday penalty rates in their Western Australia award or industrial agreement. The rate of pay is usually 2.5 times the base rate of pay, also known as "double time and a half". If an employee is on a period of unpaid leave, they are not entitled to payment for the public holiday. Employees on paid annual leave or personal leave do not have a minimum entitlement to payment for a public holiday, but a Western Australia award or industrial agreement may provide for employees to have paid public holidays during a period of leave.
Employees who are required to work on Easter Sunday are entitled to receive any applicable public holiday penalty rates instead of normal Sunday pay rates. Easter Saturday is not a public holiday in Western Australia, but some Western Australia awards recognise it as a public holiday, and employees under these awards must be paid public holiday rates.
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Long weekends
In Australia, when a public holiday falls on a Friday or Monday, the three-day period is colloquially known as a "long weekend". In Western Australia, there are several long weekends throughout the year.
Labour Day, which falls on the first Monday in March, is a public holiday in Western Australia. This is a great opportunity for a long weekend getaway or to relax and spend time with family and friends.
Western Australia Day, also known as WA Day, is another long weekend in Western Australia. It is celebrated on the first Monday in June each year and commemorates the founding of the Swan River Colony in 1829. This long weekend is a perfect time for Western Australians to explore their beautiful state or engage in community events.
The King's Birthday, observed on the last Monday in September in Western Australia, also creates a long weekend. This public holiday was previously known as the Queen's Birthday and is a great opportunity for Western Australians to come together and celebrate their state's connection to the monarchy.
In addition to these fixed long weekends, Western Australia also observes public holidays that may fall on a Monday, such as New Year's Day, Australia Day, Anzac Day, and Boxing Day. When these holidays fall on a Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday is typically observed as a public holiday, extending the weekend and providing Western Australians with additional long weekends throughout the year.
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Easter Monday
The date of Easter varies each year, according to the Western Christian calendar. Easter Monday is the day after Easter Sunday, and the public holiday applies across the whole of Australia.
In Western Australia, some regional areas hold public holidays on alternative dates, to coincide with significant local events. However, Easter Monday is a nationwide holiday, so this is marked uniformly across the state.
Public holidays in Australia are generally non-working days, with workers receiving full paid leave. Those who do work on public holidays receive additional penalty rates of pay, usually 2.5 times the base rate. When a public holiday falls on a Friday or Monday, the three-day period is known colloquially as a "long weekend".
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, if it is Western Australia Day, Labour Day, or King's Birthday. Western Australia Day is celebrated on the first Monday in June. Labour Day is celebrated on the first Monday in March. King's Birthday is celebrated on the last Monday in September, though some regional areas may celebrate on a different date.
Yes, if New Year's Day, Australia Day, Anzac Day, Christmas Day, or Boxing Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday is also a public holiday.
Good Friday, Easter Monday, and Easter Sunday are also public holidays.
A bank holiday is only for bank and government employees.
National public holidays are celebrated across Australia, while state public holidays are declared by the state and territory governments and are exclusive to the individual jurisdictions.
