Public holidays
Public holidays can be different depending on the state or territory you work in.
On this page:
- Australian Capital Territory
- New South Wales
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Victoria
- Western Australia
- Working outside your state or region on a public holiday
- Tools and resources
- Related information
It's important to know when public holidays are because employees can get different entitlements on these days.
You can calculate these entitlements using our Pay and Conditions Tool.
Go to our 2022 public holidays page for a full list of public holidays in your state or territory,
For a quick overview of public holidays, watch our short video to understand who is entitled to take a day off on a public holiday and what you should be paid.
Upcoming public holidays in your state or territory include:
Australian Capital Territory
- Monday 3 October - Labour Day
- Sunday 25 December - Christmas Day
- Monday 26 December - Boxing Day
- Tuesday 27 December - Additional public holiday for Christmas Day
New South Wales
- Monday 3 October - Labour Day
- Sunday 25 December - Christmas Day
- Monday 26 December - Boxing Day
- Tuesday 27 December - Additional public holiday for Christmas Day
Northern Territory
- Saturday 24 December - Christmas Eve (from 7pm to 12 midnight)
- Sunday 25 December - Christmas Day
- Monday 26 December - Additional public holiday for Christmas Day
- Tuesday 27 December – Substitute day for Boxing Day
- Saturday 31 December - New Year's Eve (from 7pm to 12 midnight)
Queensland
- Monday 3 October - Queen's Birthday
- Saturday 24 December - Christmas Eve (from 6pm to 12 midnight)
- Sunday 25 December - Christmas Day
- Monday 26 December - Boxing Day
- Tuesday 27 December - Additional public holiday for Christmas Day
South Australia
- Monday 3 October - Labour Day
- Saturday 24 December - Christmas Eve (from 7pm to 12 midnight)
- Sunday 25 December - Christmas Day
- Monday 26 December - Additional public holiday for Christmas Day
- Tuesday 27 December - Boxing Day/Proclamation Day
- Saturday 31 December - New Year's Eve (from 7pm to 12 midnight)
Tasmania
- Monday 7 November - Recreation Day (all parts of the state which do not observe Royal Hobart Regatta)
- Sunday 25 December - Christmas Day
- Monday 26 December - Boxing Day
- Tuesday 27 December - Additional public holiday for Christmas Day
Victoria
- Friday 23 September - Friday before AFL Grand Final (subject to AFL schedule)
- Tuesday 1 November - Melbourne Cup
- Sunday 25 December - Christmas Day
- Monday 26 December - Boxing Day
- Tuesday 27 December - Additional public holiday for Christmas Day
Western Australia
- Monday 26 September - Queen's Birthday (Some regional areas in WA hold the Queen's Birthday public holiday on a different date)
- Sunday 25 December - Christmas Day
- Monday 26 December - Boxing Day/Additional public holiday for Christmas Day
- Tuesday 27 December - Additional public holiday for Boxing Day
Working outside your state or region on a public holiday
An employee is entitled to public holidays depending on where they are based for work not where they are working on the day of the public holiday
Example: Employee working outside their state on a day that is a public holiday
Cass is an employee of a business located in Melbourne. She has been sent to Sydney to perform work during November. During her interstate visit, the Melbourne Cup public holiday is observed. As Cass's base of employment is Melbourne, she is entitled to the public holiday entitlements for that day, even though it is not a public holiday where she is physically working.
