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Melbourne Cup Day Remains A Holiday

Bass Coast will keep the Melbourne Cup Day holiday on Tuesday, 1 November 2011 and celebrate "the race that stops a nation" together with visitors to the region.

By Bass Coast - 21st October 2011 - Back to News

Local councils in regional Victoria have again been given the option to change the Melbourne Cup Day holiday to another day. Bass Coast Shire Council decided to stay with the traditional Melbourne Cup holiday, to avoid confusion in the community and for visitors.

Bass Coast Mayor, Cr Veronica Dowman, said the Minister for Tourism advised that recent changes to the Public Holidays Act 1993 meant Council could again choose its own race day public holiday for the Shire. "These latest changes mean that regional councils have the option to choose to celebrate more significant local race days or agricultural show days instead of Melbourne Cup," explained Cr Dowman.

"There have been several changes to the Act over the past five years that have either given flexibility for regional councils to choose a race day or advised us that we must stay with the Melbourne Cup Day holiday. "This has sent some confusing messages to our community so I want to be sure that everyone knows that Bass Coast will have Tuesday, 1 November as their Cup Day holiday.

The holiday on the first Tuesday of November and the traditional long weekend is still the best option for Bass Coast as it attracts large numbers of visitors to the area.

"Visitors who have the Cup Day holiday take advantage of the long weekend to take a break from the city, making Cup Day weekend very busy for the Shire," said Cr Dowman.

"Changing the date back and forth is too confusing for visitors, local businesses and services that need to make arrangements for public holidays. "We are staying with Melbourne Cup Day. It is a great Victorian tradition and Council wants people to enjoy a race day that brings community and visitors together to celebrate," said Cr Dowman.

In April 2011, the Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Louise Asher made amendments to the Public Holidays Act 1993, to restore options for regional councils to allocate an alternate Melbourne Cup Day holiday.

This change reversed a 2008 State Government decision to formalise public holiday dates and fix Melbourne Cup Day as the public holiday across Victoria.

Businesses needing clarification of public holiday trade restrictions or entitlements for employees should visit www.business.vic.gov.au.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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