With COVID-19 restrictions causing the cancelling or rescheduling of multiple Show Day Public Holidays, the Queensland State Government has moved the annual Ekka Wednesday Holiday to Friday August 14 to create the People’s Long Weekend in an effort to boost local tourism numbers. The Government has also extended this offer to local councils. Many councils across Queensland have also taken the opportunity to repeal their current public holiday and move it to Friday 14 August.
The National Retail Association has regularly published and summarised the weekly QLD Government Gazette for retailers here and below. It is important that Queensland retailers note any public holiday changes in their area as this will affect trading hours and penalty rates.
The following councils have opted to repeal their original public holiday and move it to the People’s Long Weekend on Friday 14 August:
- Charters Towers Region (repealed as at 12 June)
- City of Brisbane (repealed as at 12 June)
- City of Gold Coast (repealed as at 12 June)
- Logan City (repealed as at 12 June)
- Mackay Region (repealed as at 12 June)
- Rockhampton Region (repealed as at 5 June)
- Shire of Burdekin (repealed as at 12 June)
- Shire of Cloncurry (repealed as at 29 May)
- Shire of Livingstone (repealed as at 5 June)
- Weipa Town Area (repealed as at 5 June)
- Whitsunday Region – Bowen (the area formerly known as Divisions 1 & 2 of the Shire of Bowen and that part of Division 3 north of the Bogie River from its confluence with the Burdekin River to its source and then easterly by the Clark Range to the eastern boundary of the Shire) (repealed as at 12 June)
The following councils have repealed their original public holiday and no replacement date is to be appointed:
- Northern Peninsula Area Show (repealed as at 29 May)
- Longreach Region (Westech Field Day) (repealed as at 12 June)
See the full Queensland Gazette publication
12 June Gazette – see pg 346 >
The following councils will keep their public holiday on Monday 10 August as part of the Royal Queensland Show:
- Bundaberg Region – within the postcode of 4671
- City of Redland
- Gladstone Region
- Goondiwindi Region – for that area covered by the former Shire of Inglewood within the boundaries of the parishes of Wyemo, Beebo, Texas, Silverspur, Arcot, Gunyan, Bonshaw, Maiden Head, Aitkin’s Flat & the town of Texas
- Gympie Region – Goomeri Township, Parish of Goomeribong
- Lockyer Valley Region
- Moreton Bay Region
- North Burnett Region – Biggenden, Eidsvold, Gayndah, Mount Perry and Monto Areas
- Scenic Rim Region
- Shire of Balonne
- Shire of Cherbourg
- Somerset Region
- South Burnett Region
- Toowoomba Region – that part of the Toowoomba Regional Council area covered by Yarraman, Upper Yarraman & Cooyar
- Western Downs Region – Tara and District
This list is by no means exhaustive and may be subject to change. We’d recommend contacting your local council for updates or further information if your council is not listed above. Retailers seeking more information, clarification or personalised advice on how to navigate these changes should contact the NRA Policy team at policy@nra.net.au.