Australia will observe a national day of mourning on September 22 with a public holiday. Source: The Royal Family, Twitter.
Anthony Albanese has declared September 22 a national public holiday to give people the opportunity to remember Queen Elizabeth II.
The Prime Minister said it would be a “one-off public holiday” and will allow Australians to pay their respects to The Queen.
“Queen Elizabeth reigned for 70 years, in an era of enormous change. She was a constant, reassuring presence with her compassion, her decency, her commitment to service,” he said in tribute to her.
Thursday September 22 is the date of the public holiday because it’s the day after the PM and Governor-General David Hurley return from London, where they will attend The Queen’s funeral which is set for Monday September 19.
Several landmarks across Australia were lit up in honour of Her Majesty, including the MCG, which was adorned in a regal purple, while the Sydney Opera House paid tribute by displaying a portrait of the late Queen who died on September 8 at age 96.
“The tribute on the sails will recognise Her late Majesty’s immense contribution to our state and nation, a fitting tribute as she officially opened the Sydney Opera House in 1973,” said NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet.
Albanese and Hurley will leave for London on Wednesday and stay for a week.
In the meantime parliament has been suspended for 14 days out of respect for Her Majesty.
“It would be difficult to envisage the sort of adversarial activity that occurs in our parliament … so I think it was appropriate, and protocols require the automatic cancellation,” Albanese said.
On Sunday September 11, King Charles III was officially proclaimed King of Australia, followed by a 21 gun salute at Parliament House.
And with his accession has come the question of whether or not Australia should become a republic, however Albanese has said now is not the time for such a discussion.
“We know that constitutional change is very difficult to occur in this country,” he said.
“Now is the time for commemorating and recognising the life and service of Queen Elizabeth and also for welcoming our new head of state in King Charles III.”
Queensland will become the first place in the Commonwealth to celebrate the King’s Birthday with the public holiday set for October 3.
