Queensland Day: Calls to make annual commemoration a public holiday

Premier David Crisafulli is calling on all of us to celebrate Queensland Day more, although he’s stopped short of advocating for it to become a public holiday. But would that sweeten the deal? HAVE YOUR SAY

Premier David Crisafulli is all for celebrating Queensland Day, but is not advocating for it to become a public holiday.

There are calls to consider turning Queensland Day into a public holiday to ramp up celebrations of the great Sunshine State.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli and an assembly of Gold Coast MPs on Friday took to the streets of Surfers Paradise to spruik the state’s day of recognition, which marks the date of June 6 when the state burst free of the shackles of NSW to become a state in its own right.

While Mr Crisafulli said he did not think Queenslanders celebrated the occasion enough, he stopped short of calling for the date to become a public holiday.

However, leading tourism expert Daniel Gschwind said the concept should be considered.

In WA, the annual state celebration is a public holiday held on the first Monday in June.

Formerly called Foundation Day, it is a permanent long weekend celebrating life in the west with music festivals, food fairs and football games.

The ACT also celebrates a public holiday for Canberra Day while South Australia previously celebrated a day off for Proclamation Day, but that tradition came to an end in 2011.

“We are in the lower third of states and territories when it comes to public holidays,” said Mr Gschwind, professor of practice at the Griffith University Institute for Tourism.

“It’s always a balancing act as employers are understandably not too keen on more public holidays, but perhaps we should consider a public holiday.

“There’s plenty to celebrate.”

Mr Crisafulli told a media conference to promote Queensland Day that he believed the day could use more promotion and celebration, but shied away from any suggestion it could become a public holiday.

“Let’s focus on making sure that people enjoy what makes us special,” he said.

“I think it’s a starting point, let’s get people excited about what makes this state great.

“Part of that is going to work and working hard and coming home and having a beer and enjoying all that is great.

“So I’m not sure I’ll be the flavour of the month if I suggest to move it to a public holiday.

“Let’s find a middle ground and say that we’re going to put on some pretty special things in the lead up to, and I make this commitment next year is going to be bigger and better than ever.”

Mr Crisafulli encouraged Queenslanders to nominate candidates for the Local Legend Awards, an initiative celebrating the quiet achievers who volunteer, serve their community, and show kindness to others.

Nominations can be made at qld.gov.au/qldday, and close at 11.59pm on Sunday, June 1.

Originally published as Queensland Day: Calls to make annual commemoration a public holiday