Politics
Labor Says It’s Time Easter Sunday Was a Public Holiday in Tasmania
Should Easter Sunday be a public holiday in Tasmania?
Media Release – Josh Willie MP, Labor Leader, 29 March 2026
It’s Time Easter Sunday Was a Public Holiday in Tasmania
In a move to help workers with cost-of-living, Labor will table legislation in Parliament to make Easter Sunday a public holiday in Tasmania.
Tasmania is currently the only state in Australia not to recognise Easter Sunday as a public holiday.
Next weekend, thousands of Tasmanians who have to work will be worse off than their mainland counterparts doing exactly the same roles.
Labor’s move is a simple, practical reform that aims to bring Tasmania into line with the rest of the country by the time Easter comes around in 2027.
Easter Sunday is part of the Easter holiday – it’s time our laws reflected that, and time those working on Easter Sunday get fair recognition.
For workers in retail, hospitality, and essential services, this isn’t symbolic – it affects their pay in a cost-of-living crisis, and their time with family.
In government, we will review public holidays and move to bring Tasmania in line with other states.
Labor is focused on practical changes that make a real difference in people’s lives, particularly when it comes to the cost-of-living.
Media Release – Josh Willie MP, Labor Leader, 5 April 2026
Thanking Easter Sunday Workers – Hopefully It’s the Last Time It’s Not a Public Holiday
On behalf of Tasmanian Labor I’d like to thank the thousands of Tasmanians sacrificing time with their families to work on Easter Sunday.
These are Tasmanians who might be working in sectors like retail or hospitality so others can enjoy the day, or perhaps in health or aged care to look after people who need it.
Often, those who work on days like Easter Sunday don’t work because they want to – they work because they have to. Keeping ahead of the bills is never easy, but it has become particularly difficult for many as the cost of living continues to bite family budgets.
Making Easter Sunday a public holiday in Tasmania makes sense. It means that Tasmanians who have to work this day are fairly compensated for missing out on enjoying time with loved ones, giving them a little extra help with the cost of living.
Easter Sunday is already public holiday in every other state in Australia.
With Labor’s legislation to bring Tasmania in line with the nation set to come before the Parliament later this year, hopefully 2026 is the last time Tasmanian workers miss out on something everyone else in Australia gets.
Labor is focused on practical changes that make a real difference in people’s lives, particularly when it comes to the cost-of-living, and we encourage the rest of the Parliament to support the move to make Easter Sunday a public holiday.
Media Release – Josh Willie MP, Labor Leader, 12 April 2026
Labor to Table Easter Sunday Public Holiday Legislation This Week
This week, Labor will table legislation in Parliament to finally make Easter Sunday a public holiday in Tasmania.
Tasmania is the only state in the country where Easter Sunday is not recognised as a public holiday. That means thousands of Tasmanian workers are missing out on the pay and conditions they deserve.
Those workers are the people who keep the shops, cafés, restaurants, and pubs going that we visit during the holiday with our friends and family.
They’re the heroes that keep our frontline services running. They’re the ones looking after our family members in aged care, and disability support workers who give up time with their families so others can be cared for.
Right now, they aren’t being fairly compensated compared to workers doing the same jobs on the mainland.
This is a simple, practical reform.
This is about fairness. It means that if you are working on Easter Sunday, you are properly recognised and properly paid.
And at a time when cost-of-living pressures are hitting hard, that matters.
It’s really disappointing that the Liberals don’t think workers should be given the same pay in recognition of the work they do as in every other state in the country.
Labor will always stand up for working people – and we urge every member of Parliament to support this change.
Media Release – Josh Willie MP, Labor Leader, 14 April 2026
Legislation to Make Easter Sunday a Public Holiday Tabled
In a move to help workers with the cost-of-living, legislation has been tabled in Parliament to finally make Easter Sunday a public holiday in Tasmania.
Tasmania is currently the only state in the country where Easter Sunday is not recognised as a public holiday. Thousands of Tasmanian workers are missing out on fair pay and conditions because Premier Rockliff and Eric Abetz won’t make this change.
When most Tasmanians are spending the day with their families, Easter Sunday workers are keeping our state running.
Easter Sunday is part of the Easter holiday – it’s time our laws reflected that, and time those working on Easter Sunday start getting fair recognition.
Labor is focused on practical changes that make a real difference in people’s lives, particularly when it comes to the cost-of-living.
It’s extremely disappointing that the Liberals don’t think workers should be given the same pay in recognition of the work they do as in every other state in the country.
Labor will always stand up for working people – and we urge every member of Parliament to support this change.
Media Release – Josh Willie MP, Labor Leader, 3 May 2026
Easter Sunday Public Holiday Legislation to be Decided This Week
This week the Parliament will debate important legislation to make Easter Sunday a public holiday in Tasmania and bring our state into line with the rest of the nation.
Labor is pushing for this change to help workers with the cost-of-living, and we are urging all members of Parliament to support it.
Tasmania is currently the only state in the country where Easter Sunday is not recognised as a public holiday. Thousands of Tasmanian workers are missing out on fair pay and conditions, and Premier Rockliff and Eric Abetz are standing in the way of change.
When most Tasmanians are spending the day with their families, Easter Sunday workers are keeping our state running.
Easter Sunday is part of the Easter holiday – it’s time our laws reflected that, and time those working on Easter Sunday start getting fair recognition.
Labor is focused on practical changes that make a real difference in people’s lives, particularly when it comes to the cost-of-living.
It’s extremely disappointing that the Liberals don’t think workers should be given the same pay in recognition of the work they do as in every other state in the country.
Media Release – Tasmanian Small Business Council, 5 May 2026
Tasmanian Small Business Council Opposes Easter Sunday Public Holiday Proposal
The Tasmanian Small Business Council (TSBC) has called on Members of Parliament to reject the proposed Bill making Easter Sunday a public holiday, warning it will devastate small business viability and paradoxically harm the workers it claims to protect.
CEO of TSBC Robert Mallett said in Hobart today, “small businesses across Tasmania operate on razor-thin margins. An additional public holiday imposes genuine costs through increased penalty rates and reduced trading days. For businesses open on Easter Sunday, the decision becomes brutal: close and lose revenue entirely, or stay open and absorb double-time penalty rate costs many simply cannot afford.”
“The real casualty is the worker. If a business closes, employees earn nothing whatsoever. If it remains open, workers only benefit if their employer can sustain the financial burden. Our members report that tight margins mean many will simply shut their doors, leaving workers with zero income rather than overtime pay.
“This proposal lacks any independent business case for Tasmania. We’re being asked to follow other states without demonstrating genuine economic necessity. That’s policy by imitation, not sound governance.
“Furthermore, Easter Sunday is a religious holiday. Yet the vast majority of Tasmanians receiving this day off won’t attend any religious observance. We’re creating a public holiday divorced from its actual purpose – a holiday for convenience rather than meaningful faith recognition.”
The TSBC urges the Parliament to vote against this bill and protect Tasmania’s small business sector and its employees.
Media Release – Josh Willie MP, Labor Leader, 6 May 2026
A Win for Workers and Cost-of-Living as Easter Sunday Legislation Passes Lower House
Tasmania is one step closer to coming into line with the rest of nation and recognising Easter Sunday as a public holiday after Labor’s legislation passed the House of Assembly.
As the only state where Easter Sunday isn’t recognised as a public holiday, thousands of Tasmanian workers are missing out on fair pay and conditions.
When most Tasmanians are spending the day with their families, Easter Sunday workers are keeping our state running and they deserve to be recognised for that sacrifice.
Labor is focused on practical changes that make a real difference in people’s lives, particularly when it comes to the cost-of-living.
It’s extremely disappointing that Premier Rockliff and Eric Abetz don’t understand the challenges people are facing, as they continue to fight against Tasmanian workers being given the same pay in recognition of the work they do as in every other state in the country.
Labor will always stand up for working people, and we encourage members in the Legislative Council to consider Tasmanian workers when they debate the legislation.
Media Release – Ella Haddad MP, Shadow Minister for Workplace Relations, 6 May 2026
Liberals Vote Against Cost-of-Living Relief for Tasmanian Workers
Labor’s bill to make Easter Sunday a public holiday has passed the House of Assembly, but the Liberal Government voted against it.
That means Premier Rockliff and Eric Abetz voted against fair pay for Tasmanians working in retail, hospitality, aged care, disability support, health, emergency services, and other essential jobs.
When most Tasmanians are spending Easter Sunday with family, thousands of workers are keeping our state running.
They deserve to be properly recognised and properly paid.
At a time when Tasmanians are struggling with the cost of groceries, rent, mortgages and power bills, the Liberals voted against a practical measure to put more money in workers’ pockets.
It tells you everything you need to know about this government.
Labor will always stand up for working people.