A late attempt to add a public holiday to create an Anzac Day long weekend, falling into line with Western Australia and the ACT, is being considered by the New South Wales government.
The premier, Chris Minns, on Thursday said his government is in talks to create a new public holiday, accounting for Anzac Day falling on a Saturday.
Remembrance services will be held nationwide on 25 April but only people in Western Australia and the ACT will get an additional public holiday on the next Monday.
“It’s not just this year, it’s next year as well that you don’t get the day off,” Minns told Triple M radio on Thursday.
“And we are underserved when it comes to public holidays, there’s a lot more in every other state.”
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“We’re going to have a conversation about it for this year.”
Talks with the RSL would be held to ensure the creation of a long weekend didn’t detract from the national day of remembrance.
“I’ve got to have confidence that it’s not going to – if we have a public holiday on the Monday – it doesn’t detract from the salience of the 25th,” Minns said.
“It’s got to be the 25th that’s hugely important.”
The Victorian government, which also does not observe the Monday holiday, and business groups were contacted for comment.
Anzac Day is one of 10 public holidays to be recognised nationwide in 2026.
Most Australians get another three or four, including those in Victoria, Queensland, ACT and South Australia.
But NSW enjoys just two extra: the King’s Birthday in June and Labour Day in October.
Christmas Island celebrates an extra six, including two for lunar new year in mid-February.
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