Australian public holidays
Public holidays in Australia can be different depending on the state or territory that you're in. All Australian states and territories share the same National Public Holidays, though some states and territories recognise additional or different public holidays. It is important for business owners and managers to know the specific public holidays in your region, as they can impact business operations, the amount of staff required, opening hours and wages especially if penalty rates apply.
To find the public holidays for your state or territory, find the list for your region below.
National public holidays
- Monday 1 January - New Year's Day
- Friday 26 January - Australia Day
- Monday 11 March - Canberra Day
- Friday 29 March - Good Friday
- Saturday 30 March - Easter Saturday – the day after Good Friday
- Sunday 31 March - Easter Sunday
- Monday 1 April - Easter Monday
- Thursday 25 April - Anzac Day
- Monday 27 May - Reconciliation Day
- Monday 10 June - King’s Birthday
- Monday 7 October - Labour Day
- Wednesday 25 December - Christmas Day
- Thursday 26 December - Boxing Day
Easter Sunday is recognised as a public holiday in several states and one territory, but not across the country. On the other hand, Western Australia Day is a public holiday only in Western Australia, and holidays like Recreation Day in Tasmania is recognised only in specific regions within the state.
Another layer to consider is how various states manage public holidays that fall on weekends. Some states observe a substitute public holiday on the following Monday if a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday. This substitute day may either replace the weekend holiday or be in addition to it.
Also, the entitlement to public holidays for employees is based on their usual work location, not where they happen to be working on the day of the public holiday. This means that an employee's public holiday rights are determined by the state regulations where their primary place of work is located, regardless of their location on the actual day of the holiday.
Here are the public holidays for each state and territory:
Australian Capital Territory
- Monday 1 January - New Year's Day
- Friday 26 January - Australia Day
- Monday 11 March - Canberra Day
- Friday 29 March - Good Friday
- Saturday 30 March - Easter Saturday – the day after Good Friday
- Sunday 31 March - Easter Sunday
- Monday 1 April - Easter Monday
- Thursday 25 April - Anzac Day
- Monday 27 May - Reconciliation Day
- Monday 10 June - King’s Birthday
- Monday 7 October - Labour Day
- Wednesday 25 December - Christmas Day
- Thursday 26 December - Boxing Day
New South Wales
- Monday 1 January - New Year's Day
- Friday 26 January - Australia Day
- Friday 29 March - Good Friday
- Saturday 30 March - Easter Saturday
- Sunday 31 March - Easter Sunday
- Monday 1 April - Easter Monday
- Thursday 25 April - Anzac Day
- Monday 10 June - King's Birthday
- Monday 7 October - Labour Day
- Wednesday 25 December - Christmas Day
- Thursday 26 December - Boxing Day
Northern Territory
- Monday 1 January - New Year's Day
- Friday 26 January - Australia Day
- Friday 29 March - Good Friday
- Saturday 30 March - Easter Saturday
- Sunday 31 March - Easter Sunday
- Monday 1 April - Easter Monday
- Thursday 25 April - Anzac Day
- Monday 6 May - May Day
- Monday 10 June - June public holiday (King's Birthday)
- Monday 5 August - Picnic Day
- Tuesday 24 December - Christmas Eve (from 7pm to midnight)
- Wednesday 25 December - Christmas Day
- Thursday 26 December - Boxing Day
- Tuesday 31 December - New Year's Eve (from 7pm to midnight)
Queensland
- Monday 1 January - New Year's Day
- Friday 26 January - Australia Day
- Friday 29 March - Good Friday
- Saturday 30 March - The day after Good Friday
- Sunday 31 March - Easter Sunday
- Monday 1 April - Easter Monday
- Thursday 25 April - Anzac Day
- Monday 6 May - Labour Day
- Wednesday 14 August - Royal Queensland Show (Brisbane area only)
- Monday 7 October - King’s Birthday
- Tuesday 24 December - Christmas Eve (from 6pm to midnight)
- Wednesday 25 December - Christmas Day
- Thursday 26 December - Boxing Day
South Australia
- Monday 1 January - New Year's Day
- Friday 26 January - Australia Day
- Monday 11 March - Adelaide Cup Day (subject to proclamation)
- Friday 29 March - Good Friday
- Saturday 30 March - Easter Saturday
- Monday 1 April - Easter Monday
- Thursday 25 April - Anzac Day
- Monday 10 June - King's Birthday
- Monday 7 October - Labour Day
- Tuesday 24 December - Christmas Eve (from 7pm to midnight)
- Wednesday 25 December - Christmas Day
- Thursday 26 December - Proclamation Day public holiday / Boxing Day
- Tuesday 31 December - New Year's Eve (from 7pm to midnight)
Tasmania
- Monday 1 January - New Year's Day
- Friday 26 January - Australia Day
- Monday 12 February - Royal Hobart Regatta (only observed in certain areas of the state)
- Monday 11 March - Eight Hours Day
- Friday 29 March - Good Friday
- Monday 1 April - Easter Monday
- Tuesday 2 April - Easter Tuesday (generally Tasmanian Public Service only)
- Thursday 25 April - Anzac Day
- Monday 10 June - King's Birthday
- Monday 4 November - Recreation Day (areas of the state that don’t observe Royal Hobart Regatta)
- Wednesday 25 December - Christmas Day
- Thursday 26 December - Boxing Day
Victoria
- Monday 1 January - New Year's Day
- Friday 26 January - Australia Day
- Monday 11 March - Labour Day
- Friday 29 March - Good Friday
- Saturday 30 March - Saturday before Easter Sunday
- Sunday 31 March - Easter Sunday
- Monday 1 April - Easter Monday
- Thursday 25 April - Anzac Day
- Monday 10 June - King's Birthday
- Subject to AFL schedule (date TBC) - Friday before AFL Grand Final
- Tuesday 5 November - Melbourne Cup
- Wednesday 25 December - Christmas Day
- Thursday 26 December - Boxing Day
Western Australia
- Monday 1 January - New Year's Day
- Friday 26 January - Australia Day
- Monday 4 March - Labour Day
- Friday 29 March - Good Friday
- Sunday 31 March - Easter Sunday
- Monday 1 April - Easter Monday
- Thursday 25 April - Anzac Day
- Monday 3 June - Western Australia Day
- Monday 23 September - King's Birthday (some regional areas in WA hold the King's Birthday public holiday on a different date)
- Wednesday 25 December - Christmas Day
- Thursday 26 December - Boxing Day
Public holiday trading
When considering trading on a public holiday, businesses must first verify if they are legally permitted to operate on that day. This is because some public holidays are designated as restricted trading days in various states and territories, allowing only certain types of businesses to open. Businesses that do not fall into these categories may need to obtain an exemption to operate.
From the perspective of workplace relations and employment law, public holiday pay and entitlements for employees are quite complex. Generally, employees are not obligated to work on public holidays. However, permanent employees, who would normally work on a day that coincides with a public holiday, are entitled to be absent and receive their base rate of pay for the ordinary hours they would have worked.
If a business chooses to operate on a public holiday and requires their employees to work, they must make a reasonable request to their employees. Employees have the right to refuse to work on a public holiday if the request is deemed unreasonable.
Remember, public holiday regulations can vary significantly between different regions in Australia, so it's important to be informed about the specific laws applicable to your business location.
Requesting employees to work
When it comes to requesting employees to work on public holidays, there are certain considerations and guidelines that employers must follow:
Reasonableness of the request
In industries like hospitality where businesses often operate on public holidays, employers can request their employees to work. However, this request must be reasonable. What constitutes a reasonable request can depend on the nature of the industry, the role of the employee, and the operational requirements of the business.
Employee's circumstances
Before making such a request, the business needs to consider the employee's personal circumstances which may include family responsibilities. This is part of assessing the reasonableness of the request.
Communication and policy
It's recommended to inform employees from the beginning of their employment that they may be required to work on public holidays, especially in industries where this is common. Having a clear policy in place about working on public holidays can help set expectations and avoid misunderstandings.
Awards and agreements
Certain awards and employment agreements may have specific provisions for working on public holidays. These could include entitlements like additional pay (often referred to as public holiday rates), the option for an extra day off, or additional annual leave. Some awards also allow for the substitution of a different day as the public holiday.
Shutting down over public holidays
When planning a business closure over public holiday periods like Christmas or New Year's, consider the following:
- Check your compliance with relevant awards, enterprise agreements, or contracts, especially on the notice provisions for leave during shutdowns.
- Give employees adequate notice as required by these agreements or contracts.
- Decide on the type of leave (paid or unpaid) employees should take, based on their entitlements and the terms of applicable agreements.
- Consult and communicate with your employees in advance about the shutdown plans.
It's important to align your shutdown procedures with legal requirements and to consider the impact on your employees. For more information on the rules and guidance, you can contact Employment Compass on 1300 144 002.
Frequently asked questions
How do public holidays differ across states and territories?
Public holidays in Australia vary by state and territory. While national public holidays like Australia Day and Christmas Day are common across the country, each region may have additional or different public holidays.
What happens when a public holiday falls on a weekend?
In some states, if a public holiday falls on a weekend, a substitute public holiday may be observed on the following Monday. This substitute day can either replace the weekend holiday or be an additional day off, depending on the state's legislation.
Are employees entitled to public holidays based on their work location or where they are on the day?
An employee's entitlement to public holidays is based on their usual work location, not where they are working on the day of the public holiday. This means the state regulations of their primary place of work determine their public holiday rights.
Can businesses ask employees to work on public holidays?
In certain industries like hospitality, businesses may require employees to work on public holidays. This request must be reasonable and take into account the employee's circumstances. Employees can refuse the request if it's deemed unreasonable.
What should businesses consider if they decide to close over public holiday periods?
Businesses should ensure compliance with any notice provisions present in modern awards, enterprise agreements, or contracts. They may direct employees to take paid or unpaid leave during the shutdown, considering the type of leave and employees’ entitlements.
Is Easter Sunday a public holiday?
Yes, Easter Sunday is recognised as a public holiday in several Australian states and territories, including the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Victoria, and Western Australia. However, it is not considered a public holiday in South Australia and Tasmania.
Is Easter Monday a public holiday?
Easter Monday is observed as a national public holiday across all states and territories in Australia. It follows Easter Sunday and is part of the wider Easter holiday period which includes Good Friday and Easter Saturday in many parts of the country.