West Australians are getting a couple of new public holidays added to the calendar.
The Public and Bank Holidays Amendment Bill 2025, which will be introduced to Parliament this week, is set to recognise Easter Saturday and a new “Show Day” as public holidays. At the same time, Labour Day, WA Day, and the King’s Birthday will all move to new dates in a move the State Government says will better align WA with the rest of Australia and support economic activity.
Two new holidays for WA
Easter Saturday will be formally recognised as a public holiday, matching arrangements already in place across most of Australia.
The other addition, Show Day, will fall on the first Monday of the September–October school holidays. Framed as a celebration of Western Australia’s culture and community, the holiday is intended to showcase the state’s “spirit, diverse culture, and community achievements.” It also means the Perth Royal Show kicks off with a long weekend.
Things to do in Perth
Changes to existing holidays
Labour Day, currently observed on the first Monday in March, will shift to the second Monday of the month. In years when WA holds a state election — every four years — it will move again to the third Monday to avoid clashing with polling day.
WA Day will leave its traditional June slot, moving instead to the second Monday in November, meaning we can celebrate WA Day with less risk of bad weather.
The King’s Birthday holiday will shift forward to the second Monday in June, aligning it with most other states.
Community support and consultation
The reforms follow an extensive review and public consultation of public holidays in WA. More than 10,000 submissions were received from businesses, unions, community organisations, and individuals, with strong support for recognising Easter Saturday and creating a new holiday to reflect Western Australian identity.
Premier Roger Cook said, “These changes are about modernising WA’s public holiday calendar in a way that reflects the needs and values of our community.”
“My government is committed to developing new ideas for the future to ensure WA remains the best place in the world to live and do business.”
“Thank you to everyone who contributed to the consultation. Your feedback has played a vital role in shaping a modern, inclusive and practical public holiday calendar for Western Australia.”
When will the changes take effect?
If Parliament passes the Bill, the new holiday schedule will take effect in 2028, allowing for a two-year implementation period. The delay is designed to give businesses, government agencies, and community organisations time to adjust workplace agreements, rostering, and other arrangements.
