Changes from 2012

New holidays for Queenslanders: what does it mean for me?

Queensland workers will receive an extra day off in 2012 following a recent review of the state’s public holidays.

The Queensland Government undertook extensive community consultation into the spread and allocation of public holidays in Queensland, as well as the arrangements for student-free days in state schools.

The results showed overwhelming support for the following proposed changes:

• shifting the Queen’s Birthday holiday to the second half of the year, preferably October
• extending the Easter state school holidays to two weeks by reworking student-free days
• an additional public holiday when Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day falls on a weekend.

What will change from 2012?

• The Queen’s Birthday holiday will now be observed on the first Monday in October, bringing Queensland in line with other states that celebrate public holidays in the second half of the year.

A one-off Queen’s Diamond Jubilee holiday will allow community and sporting events planned for the June 2012 long weekend to continue without disruption

• Easter state school holidays

Student-free days will not be spread across school terms. Instead, some will be shifted to create a two-week break at Easter.

• When Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day falls on a weekend, there will be an extra public holiday.

This will start from 2011/12, with Christmas Day 2011 and New Years Day 2012 both falling on a Sunday. Current 2011 approved public holidays can be found here.

For further information on the new holidays for Queenslanders, visit www.qld.gov.au/holidays.