Australia Is Getting a Public Holiday on September 22 for a One-Off National Day of Mourning

Overview

For most Australians, the past few days have been unprecedented: not since 1952 has the country experienced the death of its official head of state. Whether your main relationship to Queen Elizabeth II is watching The Crown or seeing her face on Aussie coins and $5 notes — and whether you follow the royal family's move through the media or not at all — the monarch's passing has unsurprisingly monopolised the news. It's also now the reason for a new one-off public holiday.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced today, Sunday, September 11, that Aussies will get a day off to commemorate the Queen. Mark Thursday, September 22, 2022 in your diary — that's being designated as the country's National Day of Mourning.

"It will be a one-off national public holiday. That's to allow people to pay their respects for the passing of Queen Elizabeth," the Prime Minister said on the ABC's Insiders.

"I spoke to all premiers and chief ministers yesterday and I'm writing to them formally this morning, they will have received their letters by now. They have all agreed that it's appropriate that it be a one-off national public holiday," Albanese continued.

The public holiday will come three days after the Queen's funeral, which will take place on Monday, September 19 Australian time.

And, the new day off means that Victorians will get a four-day long weekend, given that Friday, September 23 is already a public holiday for the AFL grand final.

Aussies in other states who do the Monday–Friday grind will still have to work on the Friday, however, unless you take annual leave.

Thursday, September 22, 2022 is now a public holiday in Australia, for a National Day of Mourning for the Queen.

Top image: Elizabeth: A Portrait in Part(s).