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Member for Swan Hill Peter Walsh today announced that Yarriambiack Shire Council’s local public holiday arrangements to celebrate local Show Days had been gazetted.
Following last year’s amendment to the Public Holidays Act 1993, regional councils now have the ability to nominate a full-day public holiday or two half-day public holidays in different parts of their municipality in order to observe the various local agricultural and pastoral shows or regional race days.
Mr Walsh thanked Innovation, Services and Small Business Minister Louise Asher for offering councils the chance to nominate an alternative public holiday to the Melbourne Cup Holiday.
Mr Walsh said he was delighted that Yarriambiack Shire had nominated holidays to recognise the importance of local Show Days in the townships of Murtoa, Rupanyup, and Warracknabeal.
“As we know, many agricultural and pastoral shows and regional race days are often relevant to only one part of a Shire,” Mr Walsh said.
People in the township and district of Murtoa in Yarriambiack Shire can now celebrate the Murtoa Show Day with a public holiday on Friday 5 October 2012.
People in the township and district of Rupanyup in Yarriambiack Shire can now celebrate the Rupanyup Show Day with a public holiday on Wednesday 10 October 2012.
People in the township and district of Warracknabeal in Yarriambiack Shire can now celebrate the Warracknabeal Show Day with a half-day public holiday on Thursday 11 October 2012, and a half-day public holiday on Tuesday 6 November 2012 for the Melbourne Cup.
"Under Labor, the Yarriambiack Shire Council was prevented from offering a part-shire public holiday for the Warracknabeal Show. The Coalition promised to change these laws before the last State Election and we kept that promise,” Mr Walsh said.
“The remaining parts of Yarriambiack Shire will continue to observe the Melbourne Cup Day public holiday on Tuesday 6 November 2012.”
Thanks to Coalition Government reform, all regional Councils have the ability to nominate the public holiday arrangements best suited to them, in lieu of Melbourne Cup Day, providing the choice that regional communities need.
“Other regional Councils can arrange for multiple substitute holidays in different parts of the Shire, just as Yarriambiack Shire has done,” Mr Walsh said.
These arrangements do not change the overall number of public holidays to which Victorians are entitled. All Victorians will still enjoy the same number of public holidays each year.
Regional Councils which wish to make any requests for alternative arrangements for Melbourne Cup Day 2012 must do so at least 90 days prior, which is no later than Wednesday 8 August 2012.