Public holidays in Australia
Encyclopedia
Public holiday
s in Australia are declared on a state and territory
basis, with the exception of national public holidays.
Besides designating days as public holidays, some of these days are also designated as restricted trading days.
Public holidays are determined by a combination of:
If a standard public holiday falls on a weekend, a substitute public holiday will sometimes be observed on the first non-weekend day (usually Monday) after the weekend, whether by virtue of the public holiday legislation or by ad hoc proclamation. If a worker is required to work on a public holiday or substituted public holiday, they will usually be entitled to be paid at a holiday penalty rate.
All states have their own public holidays in addition to national public holidays, and in some states public holidays are provided on a local basis, such as Melbourne Cup Day.
Alcohol licenses in many states prevent sale of alcohol on certain public holidays, such as Good Friday.
commemorates the achievements of the Australian labour movement
. The celebration of Labour Day has its origins in the eight hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest. On 21 April 1856 before Easter Sunday."
There is no firm rule to determine this date before it is proclaimed, though it is typically the last Monday of September. Until 1936 it was held on the actual birthday of the Monarch, but after the death of King George V
it was decided to keep the date at mid-year.
is observed on 25 December each year to commemorate the birth of Jesus
. In Australia it was brought over as a matter of course with white English settlement in 1788. Though a Christian religious festival it does not breach the constitution's separation of Church and Stadeclared under State law, which is not subject to the provision.
is on the day after Christmas, i.e. 26 December each year, except in South , the first day after called Proclamation Day
.
Boxing Day is noted for the start day. Melbourne hosts the Boxing Day Test Match
and the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
which also starts on this day.
The minister of the state may proclaim and adjustments or additions, such as the date of the Brisbane Ekka Show day holiday.
Because of the variable days of Easter, Anzac day could fall on an Easter holiday.
Victorian employees fall under the Workchoices
system either as coming within the Commonwealth constitutional power (called "constitutional corporation employees") or because of Victoria's referral of its legislative powers to the Commonwealth for particular workplace relations matters.
Employee entitlements to public holidays and additional pay depend on whether they are covered by a federal award or agreement.
Employees not covered by a federal award or agreement are entitled to public holidays under the Victorian Public Holidays Act 1993. Also, all permanent employees not covered by a federal award or agreement who would normally work on a public holiday (or a substitute public holiday) are entitled to the holiday without loss of pay. Their employers are not required to provide additional payment if they work on a public holiday, but this doesn't exclude the possibility of employees and employers negotiating for additional pay.
Employees who are covered by a federal award or agreement are entitled to public holidays as provided by the relevant federal award or agreement and the Public Holidays Act 1993. Many federal awards and agreements also provide for additional penalty rates for work performed on a public holiday.
Restricted shop trading laws
apply to Good Friday, Christmas Day and before 1 pm on Anzac Day. On these days only exempted businesses are permitted to open for trading. All public holidays and substitute public holidays are bank holidays.
The Victorian public holidays are as follows:
* Melbourne Cup Day is observed in most of the state, but various cup days and show days
in the state's west are locally substituted. See the list at http://www.vic.gov.au/about-victoria-tourism/holidays-daylight-saving/public-holidays/victorian-non-metropolitan-public-holiday-dates.html.
Melbourne Show Day used to be observed on the Thursday in the last full week of September as a public holiday until 1994. Easter Tuesday was also observed as a public holiday in Victoria until 1994.
Public holiday
A public holiday, national holiday or legal holiday is a holiday generally established by law and is usually a non-working day during the year....
s in Australia are declared on a state and territory
States and territories of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a union of six states and various territories. The Australian mainland is made up of five states and three territories, with the sixth state of Tasmania being made up of islands. In addition there are six island territories, known as external territories, and a...
basis, with the exception of national public holidays.
Nature of public holidays
Traditionally, workers, public or private, were entitled to take off a public holiday with regular pay. In recent years this tradition has changed somewhat. For example, businesses that are normally open on a public holiday may require employees to work on the day. Traditionally, in this case, the workers were paid at a penalty rate - usually 1½ (known as "time and a half") or 2 times (known as "double time") the regular pay. But the entitlement to penalty rates of pay has been reduced or entirely eliminated in many work places.Besides designating days as public holidays, some of these days are also designated as restricted trading days.
Public holidays are determined by a combination of:
- Statutes, with specific gazetting of public holidays; and
- Industrial awards and agreements.
If a standard public holiday falls on a weekend, a substitute public holiday will sometimes be observed on the first non-weekend day (usually Monday) after the weekend, whether by virtue of the public holiday legislation or by ad hoc proclamation. If a worker is required to work on a public holiday or substituted public holiday, they will usually be entitled to be paid at a holiday penalty rate.
All states have their own public holidays in addition to national public holidays, and in some states public holidays are provided on a local basis, such as Melbourne Cup Day.
Alcohol licenses in many states prevent sale of alcohol on certain public holidays, such as Good Friday.
Public holidays
| Name | | Date | | ACT Australian Capital Territory The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory... | | NSW New South Wales New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales... | | NT Northern Territory The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions... | | QLD Queensland Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean... | | SA South Australia South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland... | | TAS Tasmania Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart... | | VIC Victoria (Australia) Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively.... | | WA Western Australia Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day New Year The New Year is the day that marks the time of the beginning of a new calendar year, and is the day on which the year count of the specific calendar used is incremented. For many cultures, the event is celebrated in some manner.... |
1 January | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * |
| Australia Day Australia Day Australia Day is the official national day of Australia... |
26 January | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * |
| Royal Hobart Regatta Royal Hobart Regatta The Royal Hobart Regatta began in 1838, is a series of aquatic competitions and displays held annually in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia and is Tasmania's oldest sporting event. The regatta runs for three days, ending on the second Monday in February, and dominates the whole river for the duration of... |
2nd Monday in February | H | |||||||
| Labour Day Labour Day Labour Day or Labor Day is an annual holiday to celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers. Labour Day has its origins in the labour union movement, specifically the eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for... |
1st Monday in March | * | |||||||
| Adelaide Cup Adelaide Cup The Adelaide Cup is a SAJC Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race held in South Australia. It is handicap race run over 3,200 metres at Morphettville Racecourse in Adelaide Australia. Total prize money for the race is A$400,000.... |
2nd Monday in March | * | |||||||
| Canberra Day Canberra Day Canberra Day is a public holiday held annually on the second Monday in March in the Australian Capital Territory to celebrate the official naming of Canberra. Canberra was named at a ceremony on 12 March 1913 by Lady Denman, the wife of the then Governor-General Lord Denman. In 2011 Canberra Day... |
* | ||||||||
| Eight Hours Day | * |
Labour Day
Labour DayLabour Day
Labour Day or Labor Day is an annual holiday to celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers. Labour Day has its origins in the labour union movement, specifically the eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for...
commemorates the achievements of the Australian labour movement
Australian labour movement
The Australian labour movement has its origins in the early 19th century and includes both trade unions and political activity. At its broadest, the movement can be defined as encompassing the industrial wing, the unions in Australia, and the political wing, the Australian Labor Party and minor...
. The celebration of Labour Day has its origins in the eight hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest. On 21 April 1856 before Easter Sunday."
There is no firm rule to determine this date before it is proclaimed, though it is typically the last Monday of September. Until 1936 it was held on the actual birthday of the Monarch, but after the death of King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
it was decided to keep the date at mid-year.
Christmas
ChristmasChristmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
is observed on 25 December each year to commemorate the birth of Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
. In Australia it was brought over as a matter of course with white English settlement in 1788. Though a Christian religious festival it does not breach the constitution's separation of Church and Stadeclared under State law, which is not subject to the provision.
Boxing Day
Boxing DayBoxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
is on the day after Christmas, i.e. 26 December each year, except in South , the first day after called Proclamation Day
Proclamation Day
Proclamation Day is the name of a number of official or unofficial holidays or other anniversaries which commemorate or mark an important proclamation. In some cases it may be the day of, or the anniversary of, the proclamation of a monarch's accession to the throne...
.
Boxing Day is noted for the start day. Melbourne hosts the Boxing Day Test Match
Boxing Day Test
The Boxing Day Test match is a cricket Test match hosted in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia involving the Australian cricket team and an opposing national team which is touring Australia that summer. It begins annually on Boxing Day and is played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground...
and the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, starting in Sydney, Australia on Boxing Day and finishing in Hobart. The race distance is approximately...
which also starts on this day.
Other holidays
- Proclamation DayProclamation DayProclamation Day is the name of a number of official or unofficial holidays or other anniversaries which commemorate or mark an important proclamation. In some cases it may be the day of, or the anniversary of, the proclamation of a monarch's accession to the throne...
is in December in South Australia only. - Canberra DayCanberra DayCanberra Day is a public holiday held annually on the second Monday in March in the Australian Capital Territory to celebrate the official naming of Canberra. Canberra was named at a ceremony on 12 March 1913 by Lady Denman, the wife of the then Governor-General Lord Denman. In 2011 Canberra Day...
is held on the 2nd Monday in March in the ACT. Prior to 2008, this holiday was celebrated on the 3rd Monday of March. - Melbourne Cup Day is held on the first Tuesday of November - the day of the Melbourne CupMelbourne CupThe Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
. It was originally observed only in the Melbourne metropolitan area. From 2007 to 2009 in ACT, Melbourne Cup day was also a holiday called "Family and Community Day" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Day) The holiday continues from 2010 but no longer coincides with Melbourne Cup day. In Victoria, the Public Holidays Act 1993 (Vic) was amended from 24 September 2008 and made the Melbourne Cup Day holiday applicable in all parts of the state (unless another day is observed in substitute). It also made the holiday applicable to employees covered by federal awards. - Recreation DayRecreation Day holidayRecreation Day is a public holiday in northern Tasmania. It is held on the first Monday in November, and was instituted to offset Regatta Day in southern Tasmania. It is observed in all parts of Tasmania north of Oatlands and Swansea. This area includes Strathgordon, Tarraleah and the West Coast....
is the first Monday of November, and celebrated in Northern TasmaniaTasmaniaTasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
where Regatta Day is not a holiday. - Regatta DayRoyal Hobart RegattaThe Royal Hobart Regatta began in 1838, is a series of aquatic competitions and displays held annually in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia and is Tasmania's oldest sporting event. The regatta runs for three days, ending on the second Monday in February, and dominates the whole river for the duration of...
is the second Monday in February, and is celebrated in Southern TasmaniaTasmaniaTasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. Previously it was held on the second Tuesday in February. - Geelong CupGeelong CupThe Geelong Cup is an annual Australian Group 3 Thoroughbred horse race. The race is open to horses of all ages and sexes. The race is held over a distance of 2400 metres at the Geelong Racecourse on the fourth Wednesday of October, and was first run in 1872...
Day is held on the fourth Wednesday of October in the city of Geelong, VictoriaVictoria (Australia)Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively.... - Queensland DayQueensland DayQueensland Day is officially celebrated on 6 June as the birthday of the Australian state of Queensland.-History:Moves towards statehood began with a public meeting in 1851 to consider separation from New South Wales. As the push for separation gained momentum, Queen Victoria was approached to...
is celebrated on 6 June each year, but not with a public holiday. - Adelaide CupAdelaide CupThe Adelaide Cup is a SAJC Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race held in South Australia. It is handicap race run over 3,200 metres at Morphettville Racecourse in Adelaide Australia. Total prize money for the race is A$400,000....
Day is held on the second Monday in March in South Australia (held in May before 2006) - Foundation DayFoundation Day (Western Australia)Foundation Day, officially 1 June, but celebrated on the first Monday in June, is a public holiday in Western Australia , commemorating the foundation of the Swan River Colony in 1829...
in Western Australia in June - Picnic Day in the Northern Territory in August, and also May Day
- Tasmania has Easter Tuesday as a bank holiday (for bank and government employees only).
- Many cities and towns observe local public holidays for their local Agricultural ShowAgricultural showAn agricultural show is a public event showcasing the equipment, animals, sports and recreation associated with agriculture and animal husbandry. The largest comprise a livestock show , a trade fair, competitions, and entertainment...
. For example:- Darwin Show Day in DarwinDarwin, Northern TerritoryDarwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
area in late July - Royal Queensland Show DayEkkaThe Ekka is the annual agricultural show of Queensland, Australia. Its formal title is the Royal Queensland Show. It was originally called the Brisbane Exhibition, however it is usually shortened to Ekka.-History:...
in Brisbane area in August - Gold Coast Show in Gold Coast area in October
- Darwin Show Day in Darwin
Long weekends
Australia is sometimes nicknamed the "land of the long weekend". However, Australians have "fewer public holidays than workers in most other industrialised countries."Queensland
The days are set in the "Holidays Act 1983" as:- Good Friday
- Day after Good Friday (Easter Saturday)
- Easter Monday
- Second Monday in June (Birthday of the Sovereign)
- 1 January (new Year's Day) if on Sunday, the next Monday is substituted.
- 25 April (Anzac Day) if on Sunday, the next Monday is substituted.
- 25 December (Christmas Day) if on Sunday, the next Monday is substituted.
- 26 December (Boxing Day) if this day falls on a Monday, the following day is substituted.
- 1 May (Labour Day) if not a Monday, the next Monday is substituted.
- 26 January (Australia Day) if on a Saturday or Sunday, the next Monday is substituted.
The minister of the state may proclaim and adjustments or additions, such as the date of the Brisbane Ekka Show day holiday.
Because of the variable days of Easter, Anzac day could fall on an Easter holiday.
New South Wales
Public holidays generally follow the national pattern, but special cases (for example, in 2011 Easter & Anzac Day fall on the same weekend) are resolved by the state government a couple of years in advance and advised by proclamation. Details of future holidays can be found on the NSW Government's Industrial Relations website and the NSW Board of Studies website, which also details NSW school holidays. Bank holidays in New South Wales are regulated by the New South Wales Banks and Bank Holidays Act 1912.Victoria
Public holidays in Victoria are regulated by the Victorian Public Holidays Act 1993.Victorian employees fall under the Workchoices
WorkChoices
The Workplace Relations Act 1996, as amended by the Workplace Relations Amendment Act 2005, popularly known as Work Choices, was a Legislative Act of the Australian Parliament that came into effect in March 2006 which involved many controversial amendments to the Workplace Relations Act 1996, the...
system either as coming within the Commonwealth constitutional power (called "constitutional corporation employees") or because of Victoria's referral of its legislative powers to the Commonwealth for particular workplace relations matters.
Employee entitlements to public holidays and additional pay depend on whether they are covered by a federal award or agreement.
Employees not covered by a federal award or agreement are entitled to public holidays under the Victorian Public Holidays Act 1993. Also, all permanent employees not covered by a federal award or agreement who would normally work on a public holiday (or a substitute public holiday) are entitled to the holiday without loss of pay. Their employers are not required to provide additional payment if they work on a public holiday, but this doesn't exclude the possibility of employees and employers negotiating for additional pay.
Employees who are covered by a federal award or agreement are entitled to public holidays as provided by the relevant federal award or agreement and the Public Holidays Act 1993. Many federal awards and agreements also provide for additional penalty rates for work performed on a public holiday.
Restricted shop trading laws
Shopping hours
Customs and regulations for shopping hours vary from country to country.-Shopping days and impact of holidays:Some countries do not allow Sunday shopping. In Islamic countries some shops are closed on Fridays during noon...
apply to Good Friday, Christmas Day and before 1 pm on Anzac Day. On these days only exempted businesses are permitted to open for trading. All public holidays and substitute public holidays are bank holidays.
The Victorian public holidays are as follows:
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| New Year New Year The New Year is the day that marks the time of the beginning of a new calendar year, and is the day on which the year count of the specific calendar used is incremented. For many cultures, the event is celebrated in some manner.... |
1 January |
| Australia Day Australia Day Australia Day is the official national day of Australia... |
26 January |
| Labour Day Labour Day Labour Day or Labor Day is an annual holiday to celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers. Labour Day has its origins in the labour union movement, specifically the eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for... |
2nd Monday in March |
| Good Friday Good Friday Good Friday , is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of... |
Friday before Easter |
| Saturday before Easter Sunday Holy Saturday Holy Saturday , sometimes known as Easter Eve or Black Saturday, is the day after Good Friday. It is the day before Easter and the last day of Holy Week in which Christians prepare for Easter... |
Day before Easter |
| Easter Monday | Day after Easter |
| Anzac Day ANZAC Day Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, commemorated by both countries on 25 April every year to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who fought at Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. It now more broadly commemorates all... |
25 April |
| Queen's Birthday | 2nd Monday in June |
| Melbourne Cup Day | 1st Tuesday of November* |
| Christmas Christmas Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days... |
25 December |
| Boxing Day Boxing Day Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as... |
26 December |
Agricultural show
An agricultural show is a public event showcasing the equipment, animals, sports and recreation associated with agriculture and animal husbandry. The largest comprise a livestock show , a trade fair, competitions, and entertainment...
in the state's west are locally substituted. See the list at http://www.vic.gov.au/about-victoria-tourism/holidays-daylight-saving/public-holidays/victorian-non-metropolitan-public-holiday-dates.html.
Melbourne Show Day used to be observed on the Thursday in the last full week of September as a public holiday until 1994. Easter Tuesday was also observed as a public holiday in Victoria until 1994.