The detail that will determine if Australians will get a public holiday for Queen’s death

A key detail could determine whether or not Aussies are given a day off to celebrate the life of Queen Elizabeth.

It is the question on every Australian’s mind – do we get a public holiday to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth?

Well, the answer is complicated, and ultimately may not be decided for a number of days.

Plans for observance of the Queen’s death, with events likely over a 14-day period, are to be agreed by the Prime Minister and the Governor-General and have been in the works for years.

But an official mourning period will not be observed in Australia after the Palace advised it was up to each Commonwealth government to determine their own period of observance.

The Palace has yet to announce the date for the Queen’s funeral. Picture: Jonathan Brady / POOL / AFP

Such events include a proclamation of the new sovereign, to be held on Sunday, and Anthony Albanese’s attendance at her funeral in the UK.

On the Prime Minister’s return to Australia, a National Day of Mourning will be held on a to-be-confirmed date and will coincide with the National Memorial Service in Australia.

A minute’s silence will be observed at 11am, however there will no formal requirement to suspend events.

But since the Palace has yet to confirm the date of the Queen’s funeral, decisions around the logistics of when that National Day of Mourning will take place are yet to be made.

Decisions about when the National Day of Mourning are yet to be made. Picture: Andrew Yates / POOL / AFP

And at this stage, there is no confirmation whether Aussies will be given the day off work to mark the date.

It’s in stark contrast to Australian politicians, who will not have to return to Canberra as expected next week after parliament was immediately suspended out of respect to the late monarch.

Instead, they’ll receive a hefty 15-day break from parliamentary duties, more than the 10 days allotted to UK parliamentarians.

But Mr Albanese defended the suspension, saying it was “out of respect” for the Queen.

“These protocols have been in place for some time,” Mr Albanese told ABC Radio.

The normal business of the government will continue, he reassured, and meetings with the Prime Minister’s department have already taken place to make sure appropriate protocols are followed.

“This is a moment in our history. Of course, for the whole of my life, I‘ve only known one monarch, which is quite extraordinary,” he added.

Originally published as The detail that will determine if Australians will get a public holiday for Queen’s death