The Prime Minister has declared next Thursday 22 September a public holiday to mourn the passing of our Head of State, Queen Elizabeth II, and the government says the Statutory Holidays Act will be amended for the one-off holiday, which means it’s the same as any other declared and gazetted public holiday.

WorkSafe Tasmania states: “The national public holiday to mark the Queen’s passing will be subject to the same arrangements as most other public holidays. There will not be restrictions on trade, however businesses must of course comply with all relevant requirements such as penalty rates in their award or agreement.”

‍This means that if you’re a day worker, you are not required to work unless you consent to it. If you’re a shift worker, you may be rostered to work, but the relevant penalty rates will apply.

We are keen to hear from you if you have any questions about the public holiday or if your employer tells you that it’s not a real public holiday.

For more information, please get in touch with HACSUassist on 1300 880 032.