Good Friday Footy is on next year...

[MattyD]

It really is embarrassing that it took this long for it to happen.

It's like a lot of things in Victoria. A lot of things get held back for far too long because some people think their beliefs have to be inflicted on the rest of us.

[AN_Inkling]

[Woods]

It has long been on the agenda of business leaders in Australia to reduce the numbers public holidays in Australia. Increases national productivity and all that, don't ya know.

The introduction of footy on Good Friday is a key step in achieving the eradication of public holiday on this day (wage earners take note). Once the masses are using the solemn day of Christ's death to have a good time at the footy the pollies will pull the pin on the holiday claiming the population are no longer observing its original intent.

Former Vic Premier Jeff Kennet wound back the Melbourne Cup public holiday back in the late 1990s. It used to apply to all of Victoria - now just the metro area and some regional centres (if I recall correctly, the prick did this about the time he ordered a police baton charge and pressure-holds on mums and grandmas protesting quietly outside a school in Richmond).

The first step in recent times towards removing the Good Friday public holiday was taken on 17 March 2009 when Tab Corp announced that it was henceforth opening its wagering services on Good Friday (to take pre-wagering for the Doncaster race day on the following Sat. in Sydney, and for wagering on overseas race cards in Singapore and South Africa on Good Friday).

At the time Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Robert Doyle, and CEO of World Vision Australia, Tim Costello, were vociferous in opposition to Tab Corp's move. Be interesting to see if they take a similar stand this time round. (Tim Costello seems to have taken a compliant right wing leaning since the Abbot govt was elected and has recently called for an increase in the GST).

Personally, I think it important that we preserve what we have of our Australian culture. Those citing the US experience and saying we are "behind the times" should look at the poor working conditions for ordinary Americans - two weeks annual leave and few public holidays.

Long live Australia - the land of the long weekend.

[David]

I'm all for a certain number of public holidays per year as a matter of workers' rights, but I don't see why a certain religion's holy day should be a public holiday in a secular state.

Christmas is okay because, for most people, it is now detached from its religious origins. But WTF is Good Friday?