The council wants the Friday of the Newcastle Regional Show to be a local full-day public holiday in 2016, despite backlash from the business community.

In December the majority of councillors agreed to apply to the state Minister for Industrial Relations, Andrew Constance, for the full-day holiday for the 2015 show.

The majority also agreed that it should be the policy of the council to apply for the day off every year.

However, immediately following the vote Liberal councillors Brad Luke and Sharon Waterhouse, along with independent Andrea Rufo, signed a recision motion to try and overturn the decision at the next meeting.

The matter was brought up again at last week's council meeting after lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes wrote to the Mr Constance to outline the day's importance to residents of both Newcastle and Lake Macquarie.

In the period while the council was closed down over Christmas holidays, Mr Constance turned down the council's application for 2015.

In his written reply, Mr Constance said he received more than 40 emails and letters from the business community, who did not support a public holiday.

He said the council had not considered the costs and benefits to local businesses of taking a different approach to the show's celebration.

At last week's meeting, Greens councillor Michael Osborne said the Minister had failed to mention the council had received 384 submissions in favour of the full-day local public holiday and had ignored local residents.

■ The government has gazetted March 6 a local event day for employees entitled to a show day under their agreements. Newcastle council will operate with a skeleton staff; essential services will be unaffected.