Public holiday penalty rates in Australia are not uniform — they vary by state, award, employment type, and the specific holiday. A shift that costs $200 on a Monday might cost $500 on a public holiday, and the rate changes depending on whether the employee is full-time, part-time, or casual, and which modern award covers them. If you do not factor these rates into your roster, your labour costs can spike by 50–150% on holiday periods without warning.
This article breaks down public holiday penalty rates by state and territory, explains how they affect roster planning, and gives you a practical framework for budgeting holiday labour costs.
Key Takeaways
- Public holiday penalty rates vary by award, state, and employment type — there is no single “public holiday rate.”
- The National Employment Standards (NES) guarantee at least one of: a day off, a substitute holiday, or penalty pay for working a public holiday.
- Full-time employees working a public holiday receive their base rate plus a loading (typically 150% casual or 250% for casuals).
- Some states have additional public holidays beyond the national calendar — South Australia, for example, has Adelaide Cup Day.
- Factor penalty rates into your roster cost column before publishing — not after payroll arrives.
The National Public Holiday Calendar (2026)
These dates apply across all states and territories:
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 1 January | New Year’s Day |
| 26 January | Australia Day |
| Good Friday | Good Friday |
| Saturday after Good Friday | Saturday before Easter Sunday |
| Easter Sunday | Easter Sunday |
| Monday after Easter Sunday | Easter Monday |
| 25 April | Anzac Day |
| 25 December | Christmas Day |
| 26 December | Boxing Day |
Additional State/Territory Holidays
| State/Territory | Additional Holiday(s) |
|---|---|
| Australian Capital Territory | Canberra Day (March), Reconciliation Day (June), Family & Community Day (September) |
| New South Wales | Bank Holiday (August — banking sector only) |
| Northern Territory | Picnic Day (August) |
| Queensland | Royal Queensland Show (Ekka — Brisbane only, August) |
| South Australia | Adelaide Cup Day (March), Boxing Day (26 Dec — celebrated as a separate holiday) |
| Tasmania | Royal Hobart Regatta (February), Eight Hours Day (March) |
| Victoria | AFL Grand Final Friday (September), Melbourne Cup Day (November) |
| Western Australia | Western Australia Day (June) |
Important: Not all additional state holidays apply to every employee. Coverage depends on the award and whether the holiday is declared a public holiday for all workers or specific industries.
Penalty Rates by Award
Penalty rates depend on which modern award covers the employee. Here is a summary of the most common awards:
General Retail Industry Award 2020
| Employment Type | Public Holiday Rate |
|---|---|
| Full-time | 250% (first 3 hours), 250% after |
| Part-time | 250% (first 3 hours), 250% after |
| Casual | 250% (first 3 hours), 250% after |
Minimum payment: 4 hours at the public holiday rate, even if the employee works fewer hours.
Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020
| Employment Type | Public Holiday Rate |
|---|---|
| Full-time | 250% (first 3 hours), 250% after |
| Part-time | 250% (first 3 hours), 250% after |
| Casual | 250% (first 3 hours), 250% after |
Minimum payment: 4 hours at the public holiday rate.
Clerks—Private Sector Award 2010
| Employment Type | Public Holiday Rate |
|---|---|
| Full-time | 250% |
| Part-time | 250% |
| Casual | 250% |
Health Services Employees Award 2020
| Employment Type | Public Holiday Rate |
|---|---|
| Full-time | 250% (first 3 hours), 250% after |
| Part-time | 250% (first 3 hours), 250% after |
| Casual | 250% (first 3 hours), 250% after |
Note: These are indicative rates. Always check your specific award on the Fair Work Ombudsman website, as rates can change and some awards have different structures for different classifications.
How to Calculate Public Holiday Labour Costs
Use this framework to budget for public holiday shifts:
Step 1: Determine the Base Hourly Rate
| Employee | Base Rate |
|---|---|
| [Name] | $30.00/hr |
Step 2: Apply the Public Holiday Loading
For a casual employee working a public holiday under the Retail Award:
| Factor | Calculation |
|---|---|
| Base rate | $30.00 |
| Casual loading | $30.00 × 1.25 = $37.50 |
| Public holiday rate | $37.50 × 2.5 = $93.75/hr |
Step 3: Calculate Total Shift Cost
| Shift | Hours | Rate | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public holiday (casual, Retail Award) | 8 | $93.75 | $750.00 |
| Same shift on a normal Monday | 8 | $37.50 | $300.00 |
Difference: $450 extra per shift on a public holiday — a 150% increase.
Step 4: Factor in Minimum Payments
Even if you only need the employee for 2 hours, the minimum payment under most awards is 4 hours at the public holiday rate. So the minimum cost of a public holiday shift is:
| Minimum | Calculation |
|---|---|
| 4 hours × $93.75 | $375.00 |
This is higher than a full 8-hour shift on a normal day ($300.00). The minimum payment rule means you should never roster someone for a partial public holiday shift unless the business need justifies the cost.
State-by-State Planning Guide
New South Wales
- Standard national holidays apply.
- Boxing Day is a public holiday — retail businesses often open with penalty rates.
- Consider the impact of ANZAC Day falling on a Saturday — substitute holiday applies on the following Monday for most employees.
Victoria
- AFL Grand Final Friday is a state-specific holiday — many businesses close.
- Melbourne Cup Day is observed in Melbourne — rostering may need to account for reduced demand.
- Easter Sunday is a public holiday — retail and hospitality face peak demand with penalty rates.
Queensland
- The Ekka (Royal Queensland Show) is a Brisbane-only holiday — businesses outside Brisbane do not observe it.
- Boxing Day is a public holiday — but unlike some states, there is no additional Boxing Day holiday on the 27th.
South Australia
- Adelaide Cup Day in March is a state-specific holiday.
- Boxing Day is celebrated on the 26th and 27th — two public holidays for the same period.
Western Australia
- Western Australia Day in June is a state-specific holiday.
- Public holiday rates may differ slightly from the eastern states — check the Western Australian Public Holidays Act 1972.
Tasmania
- Royal Hobart Regatta in February and Eight Hours Day in March are state-specific holidays.
- Some regional holidays also apply — check the Tasmanian Public Holidays Act 1993.
Australian Capital Territory
- Canberra Day, Reconciliation Day, and Family & Community Day are territory-specific.
- These holidays affect businesses in the ACT — plan accordingly if you have employees in Canberra.
Northern Territory
- Picnic Day in August is a territory-specific holiday.
- The NT has a relatively small number of additional holidays, but they still affect rostering for Darwin and Alice Springs businesses.
Roster Planning Strategies for Public Holidays
Strategy 1: Close the Business
If demand does not justify the cost of penalty rates, close on public holidays. This is common for professional services, offices, and some retail businesses.
Pros: Zero penalty rate cost, clear employee expectations. Cons: Lost revenue if competitors are open, customer inconvenience.
Strategy 2: Operate with Minimal Staff
If the business must be open, roster the minimum number of staff needed. Use the minimum payment rule strategically — if you only need 2 hours of work, roster 4 hours (the minimum) rather than 8.
Pros: Reduced penalty rate cost, operational continuity. Cons: Reduced capacity, potential understaffing.
Strategy 3: Offer Voluntary Public Holiday Work
Some employees are happy to work public holidays for the penalty rates. Create a sign-up process where employees volunteer for public holiday shifts.
Pros: Higher employee satisfaction (voluntary), coverage guaranteed. Cons: Not all shifts may be filled, may not work for all industries.
Strategy 4: Factor Penalty Rates into Annual Labour Budget
If public holidays are a regular part of your operations (hospitality, retail, healthcare), budget for the additional cost at the start of the year. Calculate the total number of public holiday shifts across the year and multiply by the penalty rate cost.
Pros: Predictable budgeting, no surprises. Cons: Requires accurate forecasting of public holiday demand.
How Leave Balance Helps
Leave Balance tracks public holidays across 100+ countries, including all Australian states and territories. When you view the team calendar, public holidays are clearly marked — so you know the date, the applicable penalty rate, and the cost impact before you publish the roster.
For businesses using the Workforce tier, compliance guardrails flag when a roster includes public holiday shifts and calculate the estimated cost increase.
leave emails? Track your employee's leave with Leave Balance
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an employee refuse to work on a public holiday?
Under the NES, employees can refuse to work on a public holiday if the request is not reasonable. Factors include the nature of the business, the employee’s role, whether they have family responsibilities, and the amount of notice given. Employers cannot retaliate against an employee for refusing.
Do public holiday penalty rates apply to part-time employees?
Yes. Part-time employees receive the same public holiday loading as full-time employees, proportional to their ordinary hours. The rate depends on the award covering the employee.
What if a public holiday falls on a weekend?
If a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the holiday is observed on the day itself. Some awards provide additional provisions — for example, if ANZAC Day falls on a Saturday, some employees may be entitled to a substitute holiday on the following Monday.
How do I find the exact penalty rate for my employees?
Check your specific modern award on the Fair Work Ombudsman website (fairwork.gov.au). The FWO also has a Pay Calculator that helps determine the correct rate for each situation.
Are there any public holidays where penalty rates do not apply?
No. All public holidays attract penalty rates under the NES and relevant awards. However, some employees on annual leave may have the public holiday counted as a public holiday (not deducted from their annual leave balance).