Public Holiday Calculator
Working days between two dates — excluding weekends and public holidays, by state.
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Public holidays in Australia — what you need to know
Australia has a mix of national public holidays (observed everywhere) and state-specific holidays that vary by jurisdiction. This means a Monday public holiday in Queensland may be a normal working day in Western Australia. Understanding which holidays apply where is particularly important for businesses with staff in multiple states.
When a public holiday falls on a weekend, most states observe a substitute day on the nearest weekday. The exact rules vary — some states observe the Monday, some the Friday, and some observe both Christmas and Boxing Day substitutes if they fall on a weekend.
Under the National Employment Standards (NES), full-time and part-time employees are entitled to a day off on public holidays, or if required to work, penalty rates. These are minimum entitlements — your award or enterprise agreement may provide additional benefits.
- National public holidays: New Year's Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day are observed in all states and territories.
- State-specific holidays include: QLD — Labour Day (May), Royal Queensland Show (Brisbane); NSW — Bank Holiday (August); VIC — AFL Grand Final Friday, Melbourne Cup Day; WA — WA Day; SA — Adelaide Cup, Proclamation Day; TAS — Royal Hobart Regatta, Eight Hours Day; ACT — Canberra Day, Reconciliation Day; NT — Picnic Day.
- Penalty rates on public holidays: Under most modern awards, working on a public holiday attracts a penalty rate of 225%–250% of your ordinary rate. Some awards provide a day off in lieu instead.
- Part-day public holidays: SA observes part-day public holidays on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve afternoons, which is unique in Australia.
- Leave on public holidays: If a public holiday falls during a period of annual leave, employees receive an additional day of leave — the public holiday does not count as annual leave.
Frequently asked questions
Under most Modern Awards, yes — typically at 225% to 250% of your ordinary hourly rate (your base rate plus a 125%–150% loading). Some awards provide a flat day off in lieu instead of penalty rates. Check your specific award on the Fair Work website at fairwork.gov.au/pay-and-wages/penalty-rates-and-allowances. Enterprise agreements may provide different or better entitlements.
Under the National Employment Standards, if a public holiday falls on a day you would otherwise have worked, you receive the day off without pay loss. If the holiday falls on your rostered day off, your entitlement depends on your award or agreement. Most awards provide a substitute day — check your specific award at fairwork.gov.au.
No. While the eight national public holidays apply everywhere, each state has additional holidays unique to its jurisdiction. QLD has Labour Day in May; VIC has AFL Grand Final Friday and Melbourne Cup Day; TAS has the Royal Hobart Regatta; WA has WA Day in June; and both SA and NT have their own regional holidays. This calculator shows the correct holidays for each state.
Annual leave accrues at 4 weeks per year for full-time employees under the National Employment Standards. If a public holiday falls within your leave period, that day is not deducted from your annual leave balance — your leave is effectively extended by one day. Your payroll software or employer should handle this automatically.
Yes. When Australia Day (26 January) falls on a Saturday, the substitute holiday is the following Monday. When it falls on a Sunday, the substitute is also the following Monday. Some states have had ongoing discussions about the date, but the official gazetted holiday and its substitute rules are set by each state government.