Moves to fix a date for Easter

This is Easter week, but what date was it on last year? What date will it be on next year?

If you have no idea, you are not alone.

There are moves among Christian leaders both Orthodox and Western to fix the date of Easter and Australia's first and former ambassador to the Vatican and former deputy PM Tim Fisher is a big supporter.

He says it would improve productivity in Australia by providing certainty around the dates, replacing the current convoluted method: the first Sunday after the first full moon after the (northern hemisphere) vernal equinox - generally March 21.

Pope Francis himself said last month there were no doctrinal reasons why there could not be a fixed date for Easter, Mr Fisher said.

"It would provide stability with forward planning," he told 6PR radio.

The issue should be discussed among the Commonwealth and state governments after the federal election, he said.

Mr Fisher wants Good Friday to be set as the first Friday in April and Australia Day changed to the last Friday in January.

There will be opposition from religious groups, who traditionally argue against following a calendar and agenda set by humankind rather than God.