PM Transcripts

FOR RELEASE 6 P. M. FRIDAY 1ST APRIL 1966
FOR PRESS: P. M. No. 30/ 1966
CHANGED DATE FOR THE OBSERVANCE OF CO1MONWUlALTH DAY
Statement by the Prime IMinister, Mr. Harold Holt.
It has been decided, in consultation with the Premiers,
that Commonwealth Day will in future be observed in Australia on
the day on which The Queen's Official Birthday is celebrated,
instead of on the present date, May 24.
We think of The Queen as Head of the Commonwealth as
well as Queen of Australia. It therefore seems fittU. ng that we
should combine the two observances, which are so closely linked
in spirit, and have in recent years/ 1been separated by only a few
days. The British Government recently announced its intention
to combine the observance of Commonwealth Day and The Queen's
Official Birthday. Our decision therefore will maintain the
practice of a jcint observance in the two countries of these two~
events in the life of the Commonwealth.
In future, the flying of flags by the Commonwealth on the
Monday of the weekend which has hitherto marked the Official
Birthday of Her Majesty, will now mark also the observance of
Commonwealth Diay.
The Premiers will be announcing details of the arrangements
to be made for the observances in the States.
CANBERRA 1ST APRIL, 1966.
Backgzround Note:
The present date of Commonwealth Day, May 24, is the date
of Queen Victoria's birthday. Empire Day was celebrated on that
date between 1902 and 1958. Since then, the day has been known
as Ccmmonwealth Day.
. The Queen's Official Birthday has been celebrated
throughout Australia in recent years on the Monday following the
second Saturday in June ( Her Majesty's actual birthday is on
April 21). Prior to that, the date of the official observance
varied, although it was normally about the middle of the year.