Public holidays

Public holidays can be different depending on the state or territory you work in.

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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 List of 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 4 October - Labour Day
  • Saturday 25 December - Christmas Day
  • Sunday 26 December - Boxing Day
  • Monday 27 December - Additional public holiday for Christmas Day
  • Tuesday 28 December - Additional public holiday for Boxing Day

New South Wales

  • Monday 2 August - Bank Holiday (applies to banks and certain financial institutions)
  • Monday 4 October - Labour Day
  • Saturday 25 December - Christmas Day
  • Sunday 26 December - Boxing Day
  • Monday 27 December - Additional public holiday for Christmas Day
  • Tuesday 28 December - Additional public holiday for Boxing Day

Northern Territory

  • Monday 2 August - Picnic Day
  • Friday 24 December - Christmas Eve (from 7pm to 12 midnight)
  • Saturday 25 December - Christmas Day
  • Monday 27 December - Additional public holiday for Christmas Day
  • Tuesday 28 December - Boxing Day (substitute day as Boxing Day falls on a Sunday)
  • Friday 31 December - New Year's Eve (from 7pm to 12 midnight)

Queensland

  • Monday 4 October - Queen's Birthday
  • Friday 29 October - Show holiday (Brisbane City Council, Moreton Bay and Scenic Rim Regional Council areas only)
  • Friday 24 December - Christmas Eve (from 6pm to 12 midnight)
  • Saturday 25 December - Christmas Day
  • Sunday 26 December - Boxing Day
  • Monday 27 December - Additional public holiday for Christmas Day
  • Tuesday 28 December - Additional public holiday for Boxing Day

South Australia

  • Monday 4 October - Labour Day
  • Friday 24 December - Christmas Eve (from 7pm to 12 midnight)
  • Sunday 26 December - Boxing Day / Proclamation Day
  • Monday 27 December - Christmas Day (substitute day as Christmas Day falls on a Saturday)
  • Tuesday 28 December - Additional public holiday for Boxing Day / Proclamation Day
  • Friday 31 December - New Year's Eve (from 7pm to 12 midnight)

Tasmania

  • Monday 1 November - Recreation Day (all parts of the state which do not observe Royal Hobart Regatta)
  • Saturday 25 December - Christmas Day
  • Monday 27 December - Additional public holiday for Christmas Day
  • Tuesday 28 December - Boxing Day (substitute day as Boxing Day falls on a weekend)

Victoria

  • Friday 24 September - Friday before AFL Grand Final (subject to AFL schedule)
  • Tuesday 2 November - Melbourne Cup
  • Saturday 25 December - Christmas Day
  • Sunday 26 December - Boxing Day
  • Monday 27 December - Additional public holiday for Christmas Day
  • Tuesday 28 December - Additional public holiday for Boxing Day

Western Australia

  • Monday 27 September - Queen's Birthday (Some regional areas in WA hold the Queen's Birthday public holiday on a different date)
  • Saturday 25 December - Christmas Day
  • Sunday 26 December - Boxing Day
  • Monday 27 December - Additional public holiday for Christmas Day
  • Tuesday 28 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.

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