There are calls for Australians who have endured months of soul-crushing lockdowns to be given a permanent public holiday on 'Freedom Day'.
Australian Workers' Union national secretary Daniel Walton started a petition demanding the date Sydney reaches its 70 per cent vaccination target - expected to be October 11 or 18 - to become a public holiday.
Mr Walton said he plans to give all of his employees a day off work on Freedom Day so they can rest after months of gruelling lockdowns.
However, radio broadcaster Chris Smith has slammed the 'laughable' public holiday and said most Australians have had enough time off work, however not by choice.
National secretary of the Australian Workers' Union Daniel Walton is petitioning the day Sydney can reopen to fully-vaccinated residents be made an annual holiday (pictured, Sydney residents enjoy a night out in Double Bay in June 2020)
Daniel Walton (pictured) said the public holiday would be used as a day of reflection on the many lives lost to Covid-19 as well as a tribute to the efforts of essential workers
Mr Walton wrote an opinion piece for the Daily Telegraph where he made the argument for the new holiday.
'After months of brutal lockdown, we need a day where we can put down tools, get some sunshine and celebrate getting the upper hand on this damned disease,' the union boss wrote.
Mr Walton said the public holiday would be treated as a day of reflection on the lives lost to Covid-19 as well as a tribute to the efforts of essential workers.
He suggested the NSW government cough up some extra Dine & Discover vouchers valid only for Freedom Day to kickstart local businesses.
'Get a haircut, buy brunch, head to the zoo - whatever. Just get out there and spend some dough locally, and feel good,' he wrote.
He wrote that those who have to work to make the public holiday possible should be awarded public holiday penalty rates as well as government-funded vouchers.
'I know there will be killjoys who will complain about the idea of another public holiday,' the union boss correctly predicted.
Mr Walton argued new research had revealed the economic benefits of public holidays came close to cancelling out the cost and said though hard to accurately quantify, a day off would do wonders for mental health.
The union boss warned if Sydneysiders don't carve out some time to celebrate and reflect on their reinstated freedoms, 'we risk losing sight of how important it is'.
However, radio host Chris Smith said the extra public holiday came at a time when thousands of Sydneysiders were desperate to find a job or finally return to work.
Radio broadcaster Chris Smith slammed the 'laughable' public holiday on 2GB radio on Tuesday (pictured, residents in Sydney enjoying a picnic on Sunday)
'What a bunch of bludgers. How tone deaf can they be,' he said on 2GB on Tuesday.
Pictured: 2GB Radio host Chris Smith
'Thousands of Sydneysiders have lost their jobs in this lockdown. They would love to work on October 18 but don't have that choice.
'Here comes the AWU saying "let's all lay in a hammock with a cocktail and celebrate freedom" when 210,000 people have lost their job in NSW since the lockdown began on June 26.'
Mr Smith claimed 13 per cent of residents state-wide had had their work hours reduced while others had suffered a pay cut.
'People want to get back to work. The country needs them back to work. They're desperate to get back to normal and the AWU wants
