Editing Public holidays in Australia (section)

===King's Birthday===
{{Main|King's Birthday}}

In all [[States and territories of Australia|states and territories]] except Queensland<ref name= "pubholqld"/> and Western Australia, the King's Birthday is observed on the second Monday in June. Because Western Australia celebrates [[Western Australia Day]] (formerly Foundation Day) on the first Monday in June, the [[Governor of Western Australia]] proclaims the day on which the state will observe the King's Birthday, based on school terms and the [[Perth Royal Show]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/|title=Explore the department: &#124; Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety|website=Commerce.wa.gov.au|access-date=15 January 2022}}</ref> There is no firm rule to determine this date before it is proclaimed, though it is typically the last Monday of September or the first Monday of October: in 2011 the King's Birthday holiday in Western Australia was moved from Monday, 3 October 2011 to Friday, 28 October 2011 to coincide with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which was held in Perth.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/LabourRelations/Content/Employers/Pay_rates_leave_and_conditions/Public_holidays_in_Western_Aus.html |title=Public holidays in Western Australia - Labour Relations - Department of Commerce |access-date=12 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302031743/http://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/LabourRelations/Content/Employers/Pay_rates_leave_and_conditions/Public_holidays_in_Western_Aus.html |archive-date=2 March 2012 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> In parts of the Pilbara, it is celebrated on a different date from the rest of Western Australia, and it may even be celebrated on different dates in different parts of the Pilbara.<ref name="commerce.wa.gov.au">{{Cite web|url=https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/labour-relations/regional-dates-queens-birthday-public-holiday|title=Regional dates for the Queen's Birthday public holiday|date=20 February 2014|website=Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety Western Australia|access-date=15 January 2022}}</ref> In Queensland, it is celebrated on the 1st Monday in October.<ref name="pubholqld" />

The day has been celebrated since 1788, when [[Governors of New South Wales|Governor]] [[Arthur Phillip]] declared a holiday to mark the birthday of [[George III|King George III]]. Until 1936 it was held on the actual birthday of the Monarch, but after the death of [[George V|King George V]], it was decided to keep the date at mid-year.

On that day the "King's Birthday honours list" is released naming new members of the [[Order of Australia]] and other [[Australian honours system|Australian honours]]. This occurs on the date observed in the Eastern States, not the date observed in Western Australia.

The King's Birthday weekend and [[Empire Day]], 24 May, were long the traditional times for public [[firework]]s displays in Australia. Although they still occur, the tradition has recently been overshadowed by larger New Year's Eve fireworks, as the sale of fireworks to the public was banned by the states in the 1980s, and in the [[Australian Capital Territory|ACT]] as of 24 August 2009.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cracker down: ACT bans fireworks |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/24/2664761.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827202442/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/24/2664761.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 August 2009 |date=24 August 2009 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=24 August 2009}}</ref> In the Northern Territory fireworks remain available to the public on 1 July for the celebration of [[Territory Day]].