Anthony Albanese is forced to drop his holiday calls if the Matildas win the World Cup after widespread backlash across Australia
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Anthony Albanese has rejected his plan to pitch a holiday to the national cabinet if the Matildas win the FIFA Women’s World Cup after state leaders suggested the prime minister cool it down.
South Australian Prime Minister Peter Malinauskas has repeatedly warned that he does not want to fool the team ahead of Wednesday night’s game against England.
Speaking to ABC’s Radio National, the Labor leader of state said he’d rather invest the $18 million holiday price tag in women’s sports facilities.
“I don’t want to be superstitious about tonight’s result, but what I do think, regardless of the result, is a huge investment in women’s facilities within grassroots sport,” he said.
Victoria’s Daniel Andrews and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk have both sidestepped questions in recent days, preferring a wait-and-see approach.
Anthony Albanese is forced to drop his calls for a holiday when the Matildas win
State prime ministers have refused to support the idea of a Matildas holiday in recent days
Mr Albanese has championed the idea of a day off since it was first introduced to him in a podcast interview with youth center The Daily Aus in June.
But after reactions from business groups about the cost of extra wages and opposition from some state leaders, he changed his tune on Wednesday morning, ahead of the national cabinet meeting.
“We’re not really going to talk about it today. We are discussing housing and other matters,” he told Triple M Hobart.
“It’s up to the states and territories what they do.”
Mr Albanese also dismissed criticism that a public holiday would negatively impact small businesses.
“When the holiday was held for Queen’s Day of Remembrance, a whole host of small businesses happened on that day,” he added.
“The contribution to the economy from this World Cup has been extraordinary, and tonight clubs and pubs across Australia will be full, as will live sites full, and the contribution that has been made should not be underestimated.”
Mr. Albanese later laughed at the suggestion that he brought bad juju to the team by “going early” during the holiday.
Mr Albanese has been in favor of the idea of a day off since it was proposed in June
“Look, I was asked very early on before even they made it through the round of 16… I said, ‘Yeah, I would,'” he told SEN Sydney.
“Whether the Tillies get there or not, all Australians will be cheering for them tonight.”
Opposition leader Peter Dutton has emphatically ruled out supporting the national holiday, promising to spend $250 million on community sports infrastructure if the coalition is returned to government.
On Monday, NSW Premier Chris Minns promised to hold a holiday within a week of the final if the Matildas won.
“Not just to celebrate the win, but to hold a massive civic celebration and allow the Matildas to celebrate with the people of Sydney in what would be an amazing life-changing and incredible event in the history of the state ‘, he said.
But the Tasmanian Prime Minister and only Liberal leader at the national cabinet table, Jeremy Rockliff, poured cold water on the idea.
“We support the Matildas 100 percent, but we don’t support a holiday,” he said.
‘Our small businesses are often the first to sponsor and support our basic and top sport. It is too much to expect them to bear these costs.’
His own daughters were quick to roast him in a family group chat. “DAD WTF,” one wrote, while Ruby added, “NO DAD WE NEED ANOTHER VACATION.”
Mr Rockliff later shared the ripples on Facebook: “It’s safe to say I’m not the most popular member of the Rockliff family this morning.”