Tasmania’s ‘bizarre’ Easter Tuesday public holiday sees only half the workforce holidaying

Tasmania’s Easter Tuesday public holiday — one that sees half the workforce go to work as usual — has been labelled “bizarre” by the state’s peak business body.

TASMANIA’S Easter Tuesday public holiday — one that sees half the workforce go to work as usual — has been labelled “bizarre” by the state’s peak business body.

Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry boss Michael Bailey said it’s was strange the private sector went to work as usual when the public sector enjoyed an extra day’s break.

“It’s a bizarre thing that half our workforce is holidaying today while the private sector is busy,” Mr Bailey said.

Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Michael Bailey. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

He said discussions were needed about the relevance of Easter Tuesday and if it was decided to keep the public holiday it should be for the whole state to enjoy.

He said it was difficult for businesses to do their job when they can’t access the public sector.

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“We have a lot of hardworking people out there trying to get on and it can be extra hard to complete your day when you can’t get access to things you need, which might be access to public sector officers or access to banking,” Mr Bailey said.

Treasurer Peter Gutwein recently signalled the Easter Tuesday public sector holiday could be scrapped.

Community and Public Sector Union Tasmanian general secretary Tom Lynch.

Community and Public Sector Union secretary Tom Lynch said Easter Tuesday was an important public holiday for Tasmanian workers and instead of being cut, it should be extended to all workers.

“People have extremely busy lives now and are putting far more hours in than they used to,” Mr Lynch said.

“It gives them the opportunity to have a break before we get into winter.”

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