2014

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FOR THE 
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

HOLIDAYS AMENDMENT BILL 2014

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
MAY 2014

Presented by
Simon Corbell MLA
Minister for Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations

Holidays Amendment Bill 2014

Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this Bill is to amend the Holidays Act 1958 to provide that 
25 December (Christmas Day), 26 December (Boxing Day), and 1 January (New Year’s Day) are public holidays in their own right. In addition, when any of these days fall on a weekend, there is to be an additional public holiday the following Monday or Tuesday (as appropriate).

Human Rights Considerations

No provisions in this Bill engage rights under the Human Rights Act 2004.

Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment

The measures contained in the Bill have negligible climate change effects.

Holidays Amendment Bill 2014

Detail

Clause 1 - Name of Act
This clause names the short title of the Act.  The name of the Act will be the Holidays Amendment Act 2014.

Clause 2 - Commencement
This is a clause setting out when commencement of the Act will occur.  It is intended that the Act commence on the day after its notification.

Clause 3 - Legislation amended
This clause identifies the legislation amended by the Act.  This Act amends the Holidays Act 1958.

Section 3 - Public holidays
Clause 4 – Section 3 (1) (a) (i)
This clause substitutes a new section to provide that 1 January (New Year’s Day) is a public holiday in its own right irrespective of the day on which it falls, including either a Saturday or Sunday.  In addition, if 1 January falls on either a Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday is also a public holiday.

Clause 5 – Section 3 (1) (a) (xi) and (xii)
This clause substitutes new sections to provide that 25 December (Christmas Day) and 26 December (Boxing Day) are public holidays in their own right irrespective of the day on which they fall, including either a Saturday or Sunday. In addition, if either of 25 December or 26 December fall on a Saturday then the following Monday is also public holiday.  Similarly, if either of those dates falls on a Sunday, then the following Tuesday is also public holiday.