Australia will have a one-off public holiday as the nation remembers the life of Queen Elizabeth II.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday confirmed the country would hold a national day of mourning on Thursday, September 22 for the late monarch.
He said he had written to premiers and chief ministers asking they declare the day a public holiday to allow people to pay their respects for the Queen.
"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," he told ABC's Insiders program.
"They have all agreed that it's appropriate that it be a one-off national public holiday."
A national memorial service will take place in the Great Hall of Parliament House in Canberra at 11am, with the service broadcast across the country.
The Queen's funeral will take place in London on Monday, September 19.
Mr Albanese said the Queen was a much-respected figure in Australia and he would travel to the UK with past prime ministers in order to attend the funeral
Federal parliament sittings have been cancelled for the coming week, but the prime minister said the lost time would be made up.
"One of the days will be devoted to people being able to give their condolences on the passing of Queen Elizabeth," he said.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said he supported a public holiday in honour of the Queen.
Australia typically recognises 11 nationwide public holidays, including one commonly held in June for the Queen's Birthday despite the day not aligning with her April birth date.
Australian Associated Press
