Public holidays
Public holidays can be different depending on the state or territory you work in.
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 Calculator.
Go to our List of public holidays page for a full list of public holidays in your state or territory.
Public holidays coming up in the next few months in your state or territory include:
Australian Capital Territory
- Wednesday 25 December - Christmas Day
- Thursday 26 December - Boxing Day
- Wednesday 1 January - New Year's Day
- Monday 27 January - Australia Day (substitute day as Australia Day falls on a weekend)
New South Wales
- Wednesday 25 December - Christmas Day
- Thursday 26 December - Boxing Day
- Wednesday 1 January - New Year's Day
- Monday 27 January - Australia Day (substitute day as Australia Day falls on a weekend)
Northern Territory
- 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)
- Wednesday 1 January - New Year's Day
- Monday 27 January - Australia Day (substitute day as Australia Day falls on a weekend)
Queensland
- Wednesday 25 December - Christmas Day
- Thursday 26 December - Boxing Day
- Wednesday 1 January - New Year's Day
- Monday 27 January - Australia Day (substitute day as Australia Day falls on a weekend)
South Australia
- Tuesday 24 December - Christmas Eve (from 7pm to midnight)
- Wednesday 25 December - Christmas Day
- Thursday 26 December - Boxing Day / Proclamation Day
- Tuesday 31 December - New Year's Eve (from 7pm to midnight)
- Wednesday 1 January - New Year's Day
- Monday 27 January - Australia Day (substitute day as Australia Day falls on a weekend)
Tasmania
- Monday 4 November - Recreation Day (all parts of the state which do not observe Royal Hobart Regatta)
- Wednesday 25 December - Christmas Day
- Thursday 26 December - Boxing Day
- Wednesday 1 January - New Year's Day
- Monday 27 January - Australia Day (substitute day as Australia Day falls on a weekend)
Victoria
- Tuesday 5 November - Melbourne Cup
- Wednesday 25 December - Christmas Day
- Thursday 26 December - Boxing Day
- Wednesday 1 January - New Year's Day
- Monday 27 January - Australia Day (substitute day as Australia Day falls on a weekend)
Western Australia
- Wednesday 25 December - Christmas Day
- Thursday 26 December - Boxing Day
- Wednesday 1 January - New Year's Day
- Monday 27 January - Australia Day (substitute day as Australia Day falls on a weekend)
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.
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