Media Release
15 December 2016
Traditional customs and culture have been protected as the Governor-General made the Norfolk Island Continued Laws (Public Holidays) Ordinance 2016 (the Ordinance) on 8 December 2016.
The Governor-General, General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd), made the Ordinance, which combines all public holidays under the Commonwealth Fair Work Act 2009 with those previously contained in the Norfolk Island Employment Act 1988.
As promised, Anniversary (Bounty) Day, Foundation Day, Show Day and Thanksgiving Day will continue to be public holidays on Norfolk Island.
The Ordinance also provides certainty for the observance of public holidays when they fall on a Saturday or a Sunday.
I would like to thank everybody who provided comments in response to my media release of 4 November 2016 on this matter – most of the comments I received were related to the observance of Show Day.
The declaration of a day for Show Day will be made on advice of the organisers of the Norfolk Island Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Show.
This decision reflects a longstanding feature of the Employment Act 1988 (NI) and gives organisers the flexibility to choose the best day to hold the Show in future years.
The attached table lists the public holidays to be observed and the day, or date, they are to be observed.
The Ordinance has been registered on the Federal Register of Legislation and can be viewed online at https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2016L01949.
The Hon Gary Hardgrave