Vic councils to choose own Cup holiday in Australia

SYDNEY (AAP) April 5 - Victorian country councils will be able to choose their own public holiday in lieu of Melbourne Cup Day under new laws to be introduced into parliament.
A law introduced by the former state government in 2008 banned half-day or part-shire arrangements to substitute for the public holiday.
Services Minister Louise Asher said agricultural and pastoral shows and regional race days had suffered under those arrangements.
"In recent years, these events have missed out on attendances and valuable turnover because regional councils have been forced to recognise only one regional event at the expense of others, or none at all, if a council decided to recognise only Melbourne Cup Day," Ms Asher said.
Legislation to be introduced into the Victorian parliament this week would give regional councils the power to nominate either one full day or two half-day public holidays as substitutes for Cup Day.
They will also be able to choose different substitute public holidays in lieu of Melbourne Cup Day for different sections of their municipality based on community needs.
All Victorians in regional Victoria or metropolitan Melbourne will continue to receive the same number of public holidays each year under the plan.