Unions and Greens want more public holidays for Tasmanians

A review of public holidays should result in more days off, not fewer, the state’s union chief says.

A GOVERNMENT review of public holidays should result in more days off, not fewer, the state’s union chief says.

Premier Will Hodgman on Sunday revealed the Justice Department was reviewing the state’s public holiday arrangements.

STATE’S PUBLIC HOLIDAYS UNDER REVIEW

BACKING FOR SHAKE-UP OF STATE’S PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

Unions Tasmania secretary Jessica Munday said Mr Hodgman’s inquiry had been conducted in secret.

“He’s admitted that the Department of Justice is doing a review and is coming out with something. That’s not consultation,” she said.

“It’s not unusual for them not to talk to us. It is nonetheless pretty poor form. Who is he talking to?

“This ends up being used as a cover to actually take people’s public holidays away. We see them actively trying to do that to one group of workers already.”

Unions Tasmania secretary Jessica Munday said the review should look at increasing the number of public holidays in Tasmania. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

The State Government had offered public servants an improved pay deal in exchange for trade-offs including the removal of the Easter Tuesday holiday enjoyed by some public servants.

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“I think it’s an opportunity — if we’re really going to have a conversation about public holidays — it should be about what extra public holidays we should have,” Ms Munday said. “We don’t accept any less public holidays.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

“This is a conversation unionists really want to have because we want to talk about whether the number of public holidays we have are actually adequate.”

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said her party would like to see a new public holiday to acknowledge the state’s first people.

“Acknowledging Tasmania’s traditional owners, their dispossession and the need for true reconciliation should be at the top of the Premier’s list,” she said.

“We wrote to the Premier in 2016 to propose the inclusion of a new public holiday, Reconciliation Day, on the calendar of state public holidays.

“We hope that request will be part of the review the Premier announced.

“It is a fact that Aboriginal people and a growing number of non-Aboriginal Tasmanians cannot bring themselves to celebrate on 26 January.”

Ms O’Connor said her party supported the expansion of the number of public holidays.

“They are an integral part of community building and workplace health,” she said.

“They are also an important recognition that life can’t be all about work, all the time.

“The long weekend is something all Tasmanians treasure when they come around.

“There’s clearly a need to look at what are important and current days for public holidays, and what deserves recognition in that way.”