Matildas public holiday: Chris Minns promises day off if Australia win FIFA Women’s World Cup
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called for a public holiday to honour the Matildas if they win the FIFA Women’s World Cup. NSW Premier Chris Minns has revealed his decision.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
NSW Premier Chris Minns has guaranteed a public holiday in honour of the Matildas should they win the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Australia will take on football heavyweights England on Wednesday night in the semi-final following their heart-stopping victory over France in a historic penalty shootout on Saturday.
“If the Matildas win the semi-final and then win the world cup final then yes we’ll pursue a public holiday in NSW but not just to celebrate the victory, but also to have a massive civic celebration and allow the Matildas to celebrate with the people of Sydney in what would be an amazing life-changing and unbelievable event in the state’s history,” Mr Minns told Ben Fordham on 2GB.
The Premier ruled out the Monday following the world cup final as the designated public holiday day due to processes in place surrounding public holiday requirements.
“No, you have seven days to gazette a public holiday in NSW and obviously we want to make sure we’re in a situation where there’s enough time, particularly for young people, for young girls to come and celebrate a massive victory,” Mr Minns said.
“It wouldn’t be down the track, it would be within a week.”
The Premier pushed back on suggestions a public holiday would bring large economic loss to the people of NSW and instead pointed to the benefits such an event could bring.
“If we did do it in Sydney for a big public holiday and a massive ticket-tape parade, can you imagine the kind of energy, economic excitement … it could be an explosion of economic activity particularly in the CBD,” Mr Minns said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was the first to call on the states to stage a public holiday should the Matildas go all the way.
Those calls were swiftly followed by claims such a move would negatively impact the Australian economy.
Mr Albanese plans to use Wednesday’s national cabinet meeting to discuss with premiers and chief ministers the possibility of a day off in honour of our Aussie stars.
But Nationals leader David Littleproud said while he is fully supportive of the Matildas, a public holiday would cost business too much.
“I don’t want to be captain killjoy on this, but I think business has a point here,” he told ABC’s Insiders.
“It’s easy to call for a national holiday when someone else is paying for it. I’m proud of the Matildas and every Australian is, and we’re going to be riding it home … but I think we’ve got to understand that someone has got to foot the bill.
“And businesses are doing it tough. We live in a great nation, but we have to pay our bills and make sure the country keeps going.”
Mr Albanese on Saturday dismissed small business concerns about an “unprofitable” public holiday, arguing such an event would be good for the economy.
The Council of Small Business Organisations Australia is particularly concerned, with chief executive Luke Achterstraat warning a potential public holiday would come at the cost of already-struggling small businesses. “Public holiday penalty rates of 250 per cent – not 25 per cent, but 250 per cent – are a major impost on small businesses who will need to re-evaluate whether they even viably trade on the proposed public holiday,” he said.
Mr Albanese said the same concerns had been raised before the one-off public holiday last year after Queen Elizabeth II’s death.
“Some said that was something that would cause economic disruption. What that did, of course, was lead to increased economic activity in a whole lot of businesses, particularly small businesses, and it actually benefited a whole range of those businesses,” Mr Albanese said.
“These are decisions that are for state and territory governments, but the Matildas are inspiring an entire nation.”
The Matildas will play England on Wednesday night in Sydney, with the winner taking on either Spain or Sweden in the grand final in Sydney on Sunday.
More Coverage
Vigils held one-year on from Hamas attack on Israel
An early morning vigil has been held at Bondi Beach on the anniversary of October 7 Hamas Terror attack in Israel. Members of the Jewish community, dignitaries, MPs and survivors were in attendance.
Fears October 7 anniversary could ignite unrest in Sydney
Fears of unrest in Sydney consume the first anniversary of Hamas’ terror attack, after pro-Palestinian protesters swarmed the CBD on Sunday, taking aim at state and federal politicians.