Victoria is the only state to not declare Christmas a public holiday

Victoria is the only Australian state not to declare Christmas Day a public holiday, meaning thousands of workers will miss out on public holiday penalty rates.

Christmas falls on a Sunday this year, with the government penning the next working day – a Tuesday – as the holiday.

Both the Sunday and Tuesday will be public holidays in every other state.

Michael Donovan, secretary of the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association, has called on Daniel Andrews to reverse the decision.

‘We’ve already written to the premier and all members of the parliamentary Labor Party, asking them to address the issue,’ he told 3AW.