<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>West Australians could soon be enjoying two extra days off every year as the state government looks to overhaul the public holiday calendar.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But businesses are already pushing back against the premier's proposal, fearing the costs of paying staff penalty rates for the additional days.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Western Australia has 11 public holidays on its calendar, among the lowest in the nation.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/carolina-wilga-german-backpacker-recovering-in-hospital-days-after-rescue-wa-outback/808442c4-6ed3-4027-8edd-efbe709062b8"><strong><span>German backpacker remains in hospital after 'extraordinary feat of survival'</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="styles__Wrapper-sc-2o34ro-0 cmwkBV"><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><a href="/content/2023/06/15/14/15/which-states-have-the-most-public-holidays-australia-territories-state-national-news"><img alt="New South Wales" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 636px, (min-width: 768px) 396px, 100vw" src="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/5wcM0LnrKChuB7bmrd5_f08LeMA=/0x266:5111x3140/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2Fe0cc3eb6-49f8-40d6-ab69-7bb8607ecd59" srcset="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/5wcM0LnrKChuB7bmrd5_f08LeMA=/0x266:5111x3140/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2Fe0cc3eb6-49f8-40d6-ab69-7bb8607ecd59 396w, https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/Bg-LsyAu3fNqAudVdgZt_He_MXc=/0x266:5111x3140/636x358/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2Fe0cc3eb6-49f8-40d6-ab69-7bb8607ecd59 636w"/></a></div><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><div class="styles__Headline-sc-2o34ro-4 hpbOlz">Which Australian state has the most public holidays?</div><div class="styles__Button-sc-2o34ro-1 eBjlmW"><a class="styles__ButtonLink-sc-2o34ro-2 hqpklJ" href="/content/2023/06/15/14/15/which-states-have-the-most-public-holidays-australia-territories-state-national-news">View Gallery</a></div></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The state government is asking if there should be two more, to put Western Australia on par with Victoria and the Northern Territory</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>One of the new additions would be officially recognising Easter Saturday as a holiday. The other a new day off in September.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Also proposed is moving WA Day away from winter and aligning existing public holidays with the rest of the country</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/western-australia-two-new-public-holidays-when-are-they/11caa855-dcd5-43c6-baae-461cd0dbe189" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I think we should use it as an opportunity to, as a community, reflect on a particular theme," Premier Roger Cook said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>People on the street questioned by 9News were divided.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I do think we have too many, I really think Australia has got enough," one person said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Whereas another quickly replied: "I would love it. Always love a public holiday."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/wantirna-south-second-person-dies-after-pedestrians-struck-by-car/a81ab8c6-eeb1-4a2c-ae80-309454915bd9"><strong><span>Grandfather, 60, dies days after wife after they were struck by car</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The costs to workers' personal lives and to small businesses could sway support away from the two extra days.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Workers need additional time to be able to spend with their family and friends in order to live well balanced lives that are happy and healthy," Unions WA's Rikki Hendon said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA's Aaron Morey said it supported having public holidays aligned with the dates used on the east coast, but did not back additional public holidays.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"A small business will be fronting up $65 an hour for someone to wash dishes, that's just a crippling cost," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Consultation is open to the public for four weeks, but any changes won't take effect until 2027 at the earliest.</span></div></div>