Public holidays in Australia: what working holiday makers need to know

What are the national public holidays in Australia?

Public holidays observed across the entire country:

• 1 January: New Year's Day
• 26 January: Australia Day
• Good Friday and Easter Monday: dates vary each year
• 25 April: ANZAC Day
• 25 December: Christmas Day
• 26 December: Boxing Day

The King's Birthday is also a national public holiday but is observed on different dates by state. In most states it falls on the second Monday in June, but Queensland and Western Australia observe it differently.

What state-specific public holidays exist?

Each state and territory adds its own public holidays:

• Victoria: Melbourne Cup Day (first Tuesday in November), AFL Grand Final Friday
• NSW: Bank Holiday (first Monday in August, banks only)
• Queensland: Royal Queensland Show (the Ekka, Brisbane only)
• South Australia: Adelaide Cup Day, Proclamation Day
• Western Australia: WA Day (first Monday in June)
• Tasmania: Royal Hobart Show Day, Eight Hours Day

Labour Day falls on different dates in different states. As a working holiday maker moving between states, check the local public holiday calendar for wherever you are based.

What pay rate applies on public holidays?

Public holiday penalty rates are among the highest in Australian employment:

• Standard public holiday rate: 225% of your ordinary rate (double time and a quarter)
• Some awards: 250% (double time and a half)
• Casual employees: the 25% casual loading is already in your base rate, so the public holiday rate calculation may be slightly different

Examples for a working holiday maker on a $25/hour ordinary rate:

• 225% public holiday rate: $56.25/hour
• 250% public holiday rate: $62.50/hour

These rates apply to all hours worked on the public holiday, including hours that would normally be regular shifts.

Can your employer require you to work on a public holiday?

Under the Fair Work Act:

• Employers can request employees to work a public holiday
• Employees have the right to refuse if the request is unreasonable
• A refusal cannot be used as grounds for termination
• Reasonable requests consider business need, employee circumstances, and notice given

For casual workers, you can typically decline a public holiday shift without consequence. For permanent employees, refusing may have implications depending on the reasonableness of the request.

What if you do not work on a public holiday?

For permanent employees (full-time and part-time):

• If a public holiday falls on a day you normally work, you receive your ordinary pay for that day off
• This is paid at your base rate (no penalty)
• This entitlement does not apply to casual employees

For casual employees:

• You are not paid for public holidays you do not work
• The 25% casual loading is intended to compensate for the lack of paid public holidays

Is there overtime on top of public holiday rates?

Generally no. The public holiday rate is already at the maximum penalty level:

• Public holiday rate applies to all hours worked
• No additional overtime loading stacked on top
• Some specific awards may have nuances; the public holiday rate usually absorbs overtime

What should you check on your payslip after a public holiday?

After a week with a public holiday:

• Confirm the public holiday rate is shown separately from regular hours
• Check the rate matches the award penalty (usually 225-250%)
• Verify the total hours worked on the public holiday are correctly counted
• Compare against your roster

If your pay does not reflect the correct public holiday rate, get in touch with our team. We help working holiday makers recover penalty rate underpayments through the right channels.