Each year Christmas and New Year public holidays fall on different days of the week. Because of this, each year there is a question around which public holidays are genuine public holidays for penalty rate purposes. We thought, at HR Central, that the following information may be handy for you when considering your staffing rosters, and what days are public holidays and what are not, and to remind you to stay on top of correct rates of pays during this time.
This year Christmas day falls on a Sunday. Whilst Sunday is not an ordinary working day for some, it is still a public holiday and if your employees work on this day, penalty rates of both a Sunday and a public holiday will apply for the time that employee is working. If you are unsure of the penalty rates that apply, please contact your payroll department or one of our HR Specialists.
Below you will find a list of the public holidays for each state over the Christmas and New Year period.
Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria & Western Australia
- Sunday 25 December – Christmas Day
- Monday 26 December – Boxing Day
- Tuesday 27 December – Additional Day
- Sunday 1 January 2017- New Year’s Day
- Monday 2 January – Additional Day
The additional public holiday on the 27th of December applies as Christmas Day falls on a weekend. Furthermore, this also applies to New Year’s Day which falls on the weekend.
South Australia
- Sunday 25 December – Christmas Day
- Monday 26 December – Christmas Day**
- Tuesday 27 December – Boxing Day / Proclamation Day***
- Sunday 1 January 2017- New Year’s Day
- Monday 2 January – Additional Day****
Additionally, penalty rates apply on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve from 7pm to midnight.
As Christmas falls on a Sunday this year, the public holiday for Christmas will fall on the 26th of December. Further, as the 26th of December is the Christmas holiday, the boxing day holiday will take place on the 27th.
This year, New Year’s Day falls on a weekend and hence the 2nd of January will be a public holiday.