The Shoppies Union and the opposition have backed the state government’s bid to overhaul Queensland’s public holiday calendar.

Premier Anna Bligh has released a discussion paper which suggested moving the Queen’s birthday holiday to later in the year and bundle most student free days together and have them attached to the Easter holidays.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh ... pupil-free days confuse and frustrate parents.

It also backed a review of how retail workers are paid when a public holiday falls on a weekend.

At present, if the date of Christmas, New Year’s Day or Boxing Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, workers are paid normal weekend rates instead of public holiday rates.