How to pay for public holidays
All employees who are required to work on a public holiday will be paid in accordance with the applicable Award or Enterprise Agreement, the National Employment Standards, and their employment contract.
Employees who are paid a salary that already includes compensation for working public holidays will be paid as normal.
Full-time and part-time employees who do not work on a public holiday will be paid for their ordinary hours if the public holiday falls on a day they would normally work, in line with their Award, Agreement, or employment contract.
Casual employees are generally not paid for public holidays unless they work on the day.
For any clarification on how to pay your employees, please contact ER Strategies.
Disclaimer
This guide is intended to help explain public holidays and is correct at the time of writing. Public holiday dates and entitlements can vary depending on the state or territory, location, and the relevant Award, Enterprise Agreement, or employment contract.
Pay rates and entitlements for working on a public holiday are set by the applicable industrial instrument and the National Employment Standards. If you’re unsure how a public holiday applies to you or your team, please check your Award or Agreement or speak with your manager or HR for clarification.
Australian Capital Territory
- Thursday 1 January – New Year’s Day
- Monday 26 January – Australia Day
- Monday 9 March – Canberra Day
- Friday 3 April – Good Friday
- Saturday 4 April – Easter Saturday – the day after Good Friday
- Sunday 5 April – Easter Sunday
- Monday 6 April – Easter Monday
- Saturday 25 April – Anzac Day
- Monday 1 June – Reconciliation Day
- Monday 8 June – King’s Birthday
- Monday 5 October – Labour Day
- Friday 25 December – Christmas Day
- Saturday 26 December – Boxing Day
- Monday 28 December – Additional public holiday for Boxing Day.
New South Wales
- Thursday 1 January – New Year’s Day
- Monday 26 January – Australia Day
- Friday 3 April – Good Friday
- Saturday 4 April – Easter Saturday
- Sunday 5 April – Easter Sunday
- Monday 6 April – Easter Monday
- Saturday 25 April – Anzac Day
- Monday 8 June – King’s Birthday
- Monday 5 October – Labour Day
- Friday 25 December – Christmas Day
- Saturday 26 December – Boxing Day
- Monday 28 December – Additional public holiday for Boxing Day.
Northern Territory
- Thursday 1 January – New Year’s Day
- Monday 26 January – Australia Day
- Friday 3 April – Good Friday
- Saturday 4 April – Easter Saturday
- Sunday 5 April – Easter Sunday
- Monday 6 April – Easter Monday
- Saturday 25 April – Anzac Day
- Monday 4 May – May Day
- Monday 8 June – King’s Birthday
- Monday 3 August – Picnic Day
- Thursday 24 December – Christmas Eve (from 7 pm to midnight)
- Friday 25 December – Christmas Day
- Saturday 26 December – Boxing Day
- Monday 28 December – Additional public holiday for Boxing Day
- Thursday 31 December – New Year’s Eve (from 7 pm to midnight)
Queensland
- Thursday 1 January – New Year’s Day
- Monday 26 January – Australia Day
- Friday 3 April – Good Friday
- Saturday 4 April – The day after Good Friday
- Sunday 5 April – Easter Sunday
- Monday 6 April – Easter Monday
- Saturday 25 April – Anzac Day
- Monday 4 May – Labour Day
- Wednesday 12 August – Royal Queensland Show (Brisbane area only)
- Monday 5 October – King’s Birthday
- Thursday 24 December – Christmas Eve (from 6 pm to midnight)
- Friday 25 December – Christmas Day
- Saturday 26 December – Boxing Day
- Monday 28 December – Additional public holiday for Boxing Day
South Australia
- Thursday 1 January – New Year’s Day
- Monday 26 January – Australia Day
- Monday 9 March – Adelaide Cup Day
- Friday 3 April – Good Friday
- Saturday 4 April – Easter Saturday
- Sunday 5 April – Easter Sunday
- Monday 6 April – Easter Monday
- Saturday 25 April – Anzac Day
- Monday 8 June – King’s Birthday
- Monday 5 October – Labour Day
- Thursday 24 December – Christmas Eve (from 7 pm to midnight)
- Friday 25 December – Christmas Day
- Saturday 26 December – Proclamation Day holiday / Boxing Day
- Monday 28 December – Additional public holiday for Proclamation Day holiday / Boxing Day
- Thursday 31 December – New Year’s Eve (from 7 pm to midnight)
Tasmania
- Thursday 1 January – New Year’s Day
- Monday 26 January – Australia Day
- Monday 9 February – Royal Hobart Regatta (only observed in certain areas of the state, including Hobart)
- Monday 9 March – Eight Hours Day
- Friday 3 April – Good Friday
- Monday 6 April – Easter Monday
- Tuesday 7 April – Easter Tuesday (generally Tasmanian Public Service only)
- Saturday 25 April – Anzac Day
- Monday 8 June – King’s Birthday
- Thursday 22 October – Royal Hobart Show (only observed in certain areas of the state, including Hobart)
- Monday 2 November – Recreation Day (areas of the state that don’t observe Royal Hobart Regatta)
- Friday 25 December – Christmas Day
- Monday 28 December – Boxing Day
Victoria
- Thursday 1 January – New Year’s Day
- Monday 26 January – Australia Day
- Monday 9 March – Labour Day
- Friday 3 April – Good Friday
- Saturday 4 April – Saturday before Easter
- Sunday 5 April – Easter Sunday
- Monday 6 April – Easter Monday
- Saturday 25 April – Anzac Day
- Monday 8 June – King’s Birthday
- Friday before the AFL Grand Final – Date TBC
- Tuesday 3 November – Melbourne Cup Day
- Friday 25 December – Christmas Day
- Saturday 26 December – Boxing Day
- Monday 28 December – Additional public holiday for Boxing Day
Western Australia
- Thursday 1 January – New Year’s Day
- Monday 26 January – Australia Day
- Monday 2 March – Labour Day
- Friday 3 April – Good Friday
- Sunday 5 April – Easter Sunday
- Monday 6 April – Easter Monday
- Saturday 25 April – Anzac Day
- Monday 27 April – Additional public holiday for Anzac Day
- Monday 1 June – Western Australia Day
- Monday 28 September – King’s Birthday (some regional areas in WA hold the King’s Birthday public holiday on a different date)
- Friday 25 December – Christmas Day
- Saturday 26 December – Boxing Day
Monday 28 December – Additional public holiday for Boxing Day
Need Advice?
ER Strategies are experts in employment compliance and can assist you in managing your employment compliance responsibilities. To discuss your obligations and assistance we can provide, get in touch with us at 1300 55 66 37, or click the button below.
