A quick update – additional public holiday in 2026 and 2027
From 2026, NSW employers will see a new ANZAC Day public holiday. As ANZAC Day falls on a Saturday (25 April 2026), the NSW Government has added an additional public holiday on Monday 27 April 2026 (and again in 2027).
NSW will also continue its full‑day restricted trading rules on ANZAC Day, following the 2025 changes.
These updates can affect staffing, pay rates, rostering, trading hours and any cross‑state/territory work, so it’s important to plan ahead to minimise disruption.
Key Points for NSW Businesses
Saturday 25 April – ANZAC Day
- Official NSW public holiday.
- Full day restricted trading applies for non-exempt retailers.
- Exempt businesses (i.e., small shops, chemists, petrol stations, cafés, licensed venues etc.) may open.
Monday 27 April – Additional NSW Public Holiday
- Declared NSW statewide public holiday for 2026 and 2027.
- No ANZAC specific restrictions.
- Treated as a standard public holiday for pay and operations.
How Other States and Territories Compare (2026)
Different jurisdictions apply different arrangements when ANZAC Day falls on a weekend:
- ACT – Public holiday observed Monday 27 April only; Saturday is not treated as a public holiday.
- WA – Recognises both Saturday 25 April and Monday 27 April as public holidays.
- VIC, QLD, SA, TAS, NT – Saturday only is the public holiday; no Monday substitute.
Requesting Employees to Work on Public Holidays
Under the Fair Work Act, employers must request – not require – employees to work on a public holiday. Employees may agree to the request or may refuse if the refusal is reasonable.
An employee can work a public holiday only if:
- the employer requests the employee to work and the employee agrees, or
- the employee refuses, but the refusal is not reasonable.
Factors that influence what is “reasonable”:
- operational requirements
- the nature of the employee’s work
- whether public holiday work is expected in the role
- the employee’s personal circumstances (e.g., caring responsibilities)
Best practice steps for employers
- Issue draft rosters or written requests for public holiday shifts
- Explain why the request is reasonable
- Allow employees to accept or provide a reason for refusal
- Finalise rosters after reviewing responses
- Communicate clearly when a refusal is assessed as unreasonable
What This Means for Employers
- NSW employers must plan for two public holidays across the ANZAC weekend.
- Saturday remains the only restricted trading day in NSW.
- Cross state payroll must reflect ACT (Monday only public holiday) and WA (both Saturday and Monday public holiday).
- Public holiday work requests must follow Fair Work’s request–not require rules.
- Payroll systems must be configured for correct public holiday dates across states to avoid underpayments.
Practical Steps for Employers
- Update rosters for Saturday and Monday public holidays in NSW.
- Confirm compliance with NSW restricted trading rules for ANZAC Day.
- Communicate with employees and apply Fair Work’s public holiday request requirements.
- Keep written documentation of public holiday work requests and employee responses.
- Ensure payroll correctly reflects state based public holiday differences.
- Split shifts that cross midnight to apply correct public holiday penalties.
How Allan Hall HR Can Help
We assist businesses with:
- Public holiday rostering and payroll compliance
- Award interpretation and penalty rate guidance
- Public holiday work request templates
- Multi‑state payroll configuration
- Staff communication drafting and support
Need assistance
At Allan Hall HR, we have a team of experienced HR consultants. Please call us on 1300 916 764 or contact us here to discuss any questions you may have regarding the upcoming public holidays and managing your rosters and payroll compliance during this period.
HR Support Centre Demo
We invite all our clients to explore our complimentary HR Support Centre, designed to help you navigate your employee obligations and stay updated on legislative changes. This valuable resource offers ready-to-use HR templates, best practice guidance, checklists, and access to a vast library of articles on compliance and employee management. Book in a free demo today.