What Are The Public Holidays in Australia in 2025?

List of Public Holidays in Australia in 2025

Here’s a list of Australia’s main national and state-specific public holidays for 2025. Dates may vary slightly by state and territory.

Do Employers Have to Provide Paid Leave on Public Holidays?

Yes. Australian employers must provide paid leave on public holidays for employees who would normally work on that day. Under the National Employment Standards (NES), full-time and part-time employees are entitled to take the day off with pay. Casual employees are not entitled to paid leave, though they are compensated with higher hourly rates that account for this difference.

If an employee is required to work on a public holiday, they are entitled to penalty rates, which vary according to their award or enterprise agreement. Public holidays do not count as part of annual leave. They are separate entitlements, ensuring employees do not lose annual leave days when a holiday falls during a planned break.

Legal Penalties for Not Providing Paid Holiday Leave

Failing to observe public holiday entitlements is a breach of the Fair Work Act 2009. Employers who deny paid leave or fail to apply penalty rates correctly face civil penalties up to $18,780 for individuals and $93,900 for corporations per contravention (as of 2024). Non-compliance often occurs in hospitality, retail, and service sectors, especially for casual or part-time employees where rosters are complex.

Employees can lodge a complaint with the Fair Work Ombudsman, which can investigate, issue infringement notices, or pursue legal action in serious cases. To avoid violations, employers should verify public holiday entitlements against applicable modern awards and ensure payroll systems reflect state-specific holidays accurately.

How Do Holidays Affect Overtime Thresholds?

Public holidays do not usually contribute to weekly ordinary working hours, meaning time worked on a holiday attracts penalty rates rather than standard overtime. For employees who work beyond their usual hours on a public holiday, overtime rates may apply in addition to public holiday penalties, depending on the award or agreement in place.

Stay 100% Compliant with Leave Regulations Using Playroll

Leave entitlements in Australia are carefully regulated, from national holidays to region-specific observances like Labour Day in different states. Managing this variation is complex, especially for companies with staff across multiple regions.

Playroll keeps your business compliant by tracking every legislative update and ensuring payroll reflects the correct entitlements for every employee. You do not have to second-guess whether your team is receiving the right pay or day off. Playroll integrates leave compliance directly into payroll, giving you accurate cost forecasting and peace of mind. Partner with Playroll to simplify your global leave management and guarantee every employee receives exactly what the law requires, every time.