South Australian employees who are working today will receive public holiday penalty rates for Easter Sunday for the first time since new laws passed State Parliament late last year.
This legislation, introduced by the State Labor Government last year, has finally brought South Australia into line with every other mainland State or Territory by making Easter Sunday a declared public holiday.
Overall, the changes have seen the number of full-day public holidays in SA increase from 11 to 12 each year. This is in line with QLD and less than the 13 public holidays per year in VIC, ACT and the NT.
The changes result in an average of 1.1 additional public holidays per year over the next 10 years. The only change in the 2024 calendar year is the addition of the Easter Sunday public holiday.
This legislation also ensured that Christmas Day is declared a public holiday every year, whereas previously it was not if it fell on a Saturday. The change ensures that employees who work these days will receive penalty rates.
As put by Kyam Maher
This Labor Government is committed to protecting the rights of South Australian workers, and delivering on the commitments we made at the last state election.
Our legislation has ensured employees who work on Easter Sunday get paid penalty rates.
These changes brought our public holidays into line with a majority of other jurisdictions across Australia.
Despicably, the Liberal Party sought stop South Australians who spend time away from their loved ones working over the Easter weekend from receiving penalty rates.
The Liberal Party need to explain why they think South Australian workers are less deserving than workers in Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland – who all treat Easter Sunday as a public holiday.
