National Trading Hours Summary
This page provides information about trading hours and public holidays for retail stores during the Christmas and New Year period for 2020/2021.
National Retail Association – Public Holidays Summary Table
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What are the Gazetted Public Holidays?
The following table sets out the days that have been declared and gazetted as public holidays throughout Australia.
What Public Holiday Entitlements apply to my employees?
Under the General Retail Industry Award 2010 and the Fast Food Industry Award 2010 (‘the Awards’) any work performed on any of the days listed as public holidays above (whether it is the actual, substituted, additional day or part-day) are paid at the appropriate public holiday penalty rate. Please refer to the NRA produced wage summaries for the current rates.
The General Retail Industry Award 2010 also provides that employees may, by mutual agreement, receive in lieu of the appropriate public holiday penalty either:
- An equivalent day or equivalent time off without loss of pay; or
- An additional day or equivalent time as annual leave.
There is not a similar provision under the Fast Food Industry Award 2010.
Under the National Employment Standards (‘the NES’), employees are entitled to be absent on a public holiday unless the employer has requested the employee to work and the request is reasonable. An employee can only refuse a reasonable request to work if the employee’s refusal is reasonable.
Factors that will be considered in determining whether a request or refusal is reasonable are:
- The nature of the workplace (including its operational requirements) and the nature of the work performed by the employee;
- The employee’s personal circumstances, including family responsibilities;
- Whether the employee could reasonably expect to be requested to work on the public holiday;
- Penalty rates payable;
- The type of employment – full time, part time or casual;
- Amount of notice given of the request to work;
- The amount of notice given by an employee in advance in regard to refusing a request to work.
Under the NES, if an employee is absent on a day or part-day that is a public holiday, the employer must pay the employee at the employee’s base rate of pay for their ordinary hours of work on that day or part day. This provision does not apply to casual employees or part time employees who are not ordinarily rostered to work. For example, a full-time employee may ordinarily work 8 hours on a particular public holiday but because of the holiday have only been rostered to work 4 hours. In this situation, the employee would be paid at public holiday rates for 4 hours and receive payment for the other 4 hours they would have ordinarily worked at ordinary rates of pay.
Please note that if a public holiday falls on an employee’s non-working day, the employee is not entitled to any public holiday benefits under the Awards or the NES. This is a change to the public holiday entitlements under many of the old NAPSAs and pre-reform awards that often provided a day off in lieu or an extra day’s wages under these circumstances.
For those employers who employ their employees under a pre-reform certified agreement, AWA, ITEA, workplace agreement or enterprise agreement you will need to refer to the terms of these instruments to determine how these employees need to be paid.
Trading Hours Restrictions
Trading hours restrictions, in part or whole, apply to particular types of shops and in some cases the location of the shops in specified areas of the certain states. For further information or if you need assistance in understanding the classification of your business, and the impact this classification has on trading hours, please contact the NRA for clarification.
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY – TRADING HOURS
Trading hours are deregulated in the ACT and therefore there are no trading restrictions on these days.
| ACT | Friday, 25 December | Saturday, 26 December | Monday, 28 December | Friday, 1 January |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Holidays | Christmas Day | Boxing Day | Boxing Day (additional day) | New Year’s Day |
| Trading Hours | No restrictions but stores would generally close | No restrictions | No restrictions | No restrictions |
NEW SOUTH WALES – TRADING HOURS
Retail trading hours in New South Wales are predominantly deregulated and during this period, Christmas Day is the only restricted trading day.
| NSW | Friday, 25 December | Saturday, 26 December | Monday, 28 December | Friday, 1 January |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Holidays | Christmas Day | Boxing Day | Boxing Day (additional day) | New Year’s Day |
| Trading Hours | CLOSED except for exempt shops** | Restricted | No restrictions | No restrictions |
NORTHERN TERRITORY – TRADING HOURS
Trading hours, in Northern Territory, are deregulated however, individual restrictions may apply to certain shopping centres as set by Centre Management. The trading hours for the sale of liquor products, however, are regulated.
| NT | Friday, 25 December | Monday, 28 December | Friday, 1 January |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Holidays | Christmas Day | Boxing Day | New Year’s Day |
| Trading Hours | No restrictions but stores would generally close | No restrictions | No restrictions |
QUEENSLAND – TRADING HOURS
Trading hours restrictions in Queensland vary depending on the type of shop and the location of the shop.
Further information in relation to the classifications is available within the NRA National Trading Hours Fact Sheet available through our website. If you need further assistance in understanding the classification of your business, and the impact this classification has on trading hours, please contact the NRA for clarification.
Extended trading hours in the lead-up to Christmas may apply depending on your location and the type of shop you operate. To find out what trading hours apply to your specific circumstances, please contact the NRA for assistance.
| QLD | Friday, 25 December | Saturday, 26 December | Monday, 28 December | Friday, 1 January |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Holidays | Christmas Day | Boxing Day | Boxing Day (additional day) | New Year’s Day |
| Trading Hours Exempt Shops | No restrictions | No restrictions | No restrictions | No restrictions |
| Trading Hours Independent Shops | CLOSED (except independent grocery shops) | No restrictions | No restrictions | No restrictions |
| Trading Hours Non-Exempt Shops | CLOSED | Public holiday trading hours in most areas of the state ** | Public holiday trading hours in most areas of the state ** | Public holiday trading hours in most areas of the state ** |
18 to 23 December 2020
All non-exempt stores state-wide can trade until 12 midnight, opening times are normal opening times for the day.
24 December 2020
All non-exempt stores state-wide to close for trade at 6pm.
Non-Exempt trade – Sundays Additional Christmas Hours
| ZONE | ABR | Sunday, 29 November | Sunday, 6 December | Sunday, 13 December | Sunday, 20 December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEQ | S | 8am – 6pm | 8am – 6pm | 8am – 6pm | 9am – Midnight |
| Tourist Area | T | 7am – 9pm | 7am – 9pm | 7am – 9pm | 7am – Midnight |
| Regional 7 (1ab area) | R | 8am – 6pm | 8am – 6pm | 8am – 6pm | 9am – Midnight |
| Regional 6 (other area) | D | 8am – 6pm | 8am – 6pm | 8am – 6pm | 8am – Midnight |
| Townsville CBD | * | 8am – 6pm | 8am – 6pm | 8am – 6pm | 9am – Midnight |
Non-Exempt trade – All Additional Christmas Hours – SEQ
| Date | Trading Hours | Date | Trading Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday 29 November | 8am – 6pm | Monday 21 December | 7am – Midnight |
| Sunday 6 December | 8am – 6pm | Tuesday 22 December | 7am – Midnight |
| Sunday 13 December | 8am – 6pm | Wednesday 23 December | 7am – Midnight |
| Monday 14 December | 7am – 9pm | Thursday 24 December | 7am – 6pm |
| Tuesday 15 December | 7am – 9pm | Friday 25 December | CLOSED |
| Wednesday 16 December | 7am – 9pm | Saturday 26 December | 9am – 6pm (Boxing Day) |
| Thursday 17 December | 7am – 9pm | Sunday 27 December | 9am – 6pm |
| Friday 18 December | 7am – Midnight | Monday 28 December | 9am – 6pm (Boxing Day additional day) |
| Saturday 19 December | 7am – Midnight | Thursday 31 December | 7am – 9pm |
| Sunday 20 December | 9am – Midnight | Friday 1 January | 9am – 6pm (New Year’s Day) |
Non-Exempt trade – All Additional Christmas Hours – Regional 7 day traders
| Date | Trading Hours | Date | Trading Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday 29 November | 8am – 6pm | Monday 21 December | 8am – Midnight |
| Sunday 6 December | 8am – 6pm | Tuesday 22 December | 8am – Midnight |
| Sunday 13 December | 8am – 6pm | Wednesday 23 December | 9am – Midnight |
| Monday 14 December | 8am – 9pm | Thursday 24 December | 8am – 6pm |
| Tuesday 15 December | 8am – 9pm | Friday 25 December | CLOSED |
| Wednesday 16 December | 8am – Midnight | Saturday 26 December | 9am – 6pm (Boxing Day) |
| Thursday 17 December | 8am – Midnight | Sunday 27 December | 9am – 6pm |
| Friday 18 December | 8am – Midnight | Monday 28 December | 9am – 6pm (Boxing Day additional day) |
| Saturday 19 December | 8am – Midnight | Thursday 31 December | 8am – 9pm |
| Sunday 20 December | 9am – Midnight | Friday 1 January | 9am – 6pm (New Year’s Day) |
Non-Exempt trade – Public Holiday trade
| ZONE | ABR | Trading | Non-trading |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEQ | S | 9am – 6pm | Closed days |
| Tourist Area | T | 7am – 9pm | Closed days |
| Regional 7 | R | 9am – 6pm | Closed days |
| Regional 6 | D | CLOSED | All public holidays |
| Townsville CBD | * | 9am – 6pm | Closed days |
| Exempt | E | 0am – 0am | Closed days |
SOUTH AUSTRALIA – TRADING HOURS
Trading hours restrictions in South Australia vary depending on the type of shop and the location of the shop.
Retail trading hours in South Australia’s shopping districts consist of:
- Greater Adelaide Shopping District, comprising:
a. CBD Tourist Precinct;
b. Metropolitan Shopping District;
c. Glenelg Tourist Precinct - 35 Proclaimed Shopping Districts located in country areas;
- Partial exempt; and
- Area outside the proclaimed district.
Shops outside the Greater Adelaide Shopping District and also outside a Proclaimed Shopping District are exempt and have no trading restrictions, including on all public holidays.
| SA | Thursday, 24 December | Friday, 25 December | Saturday, 26 December | Thursday, 31 December | Friday, 1 January |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Holidays | 7pm – midnight | Christmas Day | Proclamation Day | 7pm – midnight | New Year’s Day |
| Partially exempt Shops i.e. the retail sale of hardware and building materials, furniture, floor coverings and motor vehicle parts and accessories | Until 5pm | Closed | 9am – 5pm | Until 5pm | 9am – 5pm |
| Exempt Shops and Shops in Regional Districts Where Trading Hours have been Deregulated | Unrestricted | Unrestricted | Unrestricted | Unrestricted | Unrestricted |
Additional Christmas Hours – South Australia
The SA Government has declared additional trading hours for non-exempt shops across the Greater Adelaide Shopping District (Central Business District (CBD) Tourist Precinct; the Metropolitan Shopping District; and the
Glenelg Tourist Precinct).
Two Exemption Notices were gazetted. Due to a single notice being restricted to a 30 day period – one notice is specific to “Black Friday” 27 November 2020 and the other is for a range of additional hours commencing Sunday, 29 November 2020.
The Exemptions enable non-exempt shops in the Greater Adelaide Shopping District (which is the combined area of the CBD, Metro, and Glenelg) to open:
- at 9.00 am (instead of 11.00 am) on the Sundays of 29 November and 6, 13, 20, & 27 December 2020;
- until 12 midnight (instead of 9.00 pm) on Friday 27 November (Black Friday); and Thursday 17 December, Friday 18 December and Wednesday 23 December 2020 (noting that Midnight trading provides shops with the option of trading beyond Midnight into the next day); and
- until 6.00 pm (instead of 5.00 pm) on Saturday 19 December and Sunday 20 December 2020.
The Exemption also enables:
- Non-exempt shops in the Metropolitan Shopping District and Glenelg Tourist Precinct to open:
• from 9.00 am until 5.00 pm on Boxing Day – Saturday, 26 December 2020 (with Boxing Day falling on a Saturday non-exempt shops in the CBD do not require an exemption to open earlier than 11am) - Non-exempt shops in the Greater Adelaide Shopping District to open:
• from 9.00 am until 5.00 pm on the Proclamation Day public holiday – Monday, 28 December (instead of being closed in Metro & Glenelg and 11am to 5pm in the CBD)
The Exemption does not alter other public holiday trading arrangements over the Christmas period therefore all non-exempt shops must be closed on Christmas Day and only those in the CBD can trade on New Year’s Day (11.00 am to 5.00 pm).
Please also note that the exemptions are subject to the following conditions:
- Normal trading hours prescribed by section 13 of the Act shall apply at all other times.
- All employees working during these extended hours will do so on a strictly voluntary basis.
- Any and all relevant industrial instruments are to be complied with.
- All work health and safety issues (in particular those relating to extended trading hours) must be appropriately addressed.
Permitted trading hours for non-exempt shops across the Greater Adelaide Shopping District
| Date | Adelaide CBD | Metropolitan (inc. Glenelg) |
|---|---|---|
| Friday 27 November | Until 12 midnight | Until 12 midnight |
| Saturday 28 November | Until 5pm | Until 5pm |
| Sunday 29 November | 9am – 5pm | 9am – 5pm |
| Monday 30 November | Until 9pm | Until 9pm |
| Tuesday 1 December | Until 9pm | Until 9pm |
| Wednesday 2 December | Until 9pm | Until 9pm |
| Thursday 3 December | Until 9pm | Until 9pm |
| Friday 4 December | Until 9pm | Until 9pm |
| Saturday 5 December | Until 9pm | Until 9pm |
| Sunday 6 December | 9am – 5pm | 9am – 5pm |
| Monday 7 December | Until 9pm | Until 9pm |
| Tuesday 8 December | Until 9pm | Until 9pm |
| Wednesday 9 December | Until 9pm | Until 9pm |
| Thursday 10 December | Until 9pm | Until 9pm |
| Friday 11 December | Until 9pm | Until 9pm |
| Saturday 12 December | Until 5pm | Until 5pm |
| Sunday 13 December | 9am – 5pm | 9am – 5pm |
| Monday 14 December | Until 9pm | Until 9pm |
| Tuesday 15 December | Until 9pm | Until 9pm |
| Wednesday 16 December | Until 9pm | Until 9pm |
| Thursday 17 December | Until 12 midnight | Until 12 midnight |
| Friday 18 December | Until 12 midnight | Until 12 midnight |
| Saturday 19 December | Until 6pm | Until 6pm |
| Sunday 20 December | 9am – 6pm | 9am – 6pm |
| Monday 21 December | Until 9pm | Until 9pm |
| Tuesday 22 December | Until 9pm | Until 9pm |
| Wednesday 23 December | Until 12 midnight | Until 12 midnight |
| Thursday 24 December** | Until 9pm | Until 9pm |
| Friday 25 December* | CLOSED | CLOSED |
| Saturday 26 December | Until 5pm | 9am – 5pm |
| Sunday 27 December | 9am – 5pm | 9am – 5pm |
| Monday 28 December* | 9am – 5pm | 9am – 5pm |
| Tuesday 29 December | Until 9pm | Until 9pm |
| Wednesday 30 December | Until 9pm | Until 9pm |
| Thursday 31 December** | Until 9pm | Until 9pm |
| Friday 1 January* | 11am – 5pm | CLOSED |
Regional Shopping Districts
Local government authorities in SA can request that the Minister deregulate trading hours in their particular district.
As a result, trading hours in almost all of South Australia’s regional centres have been deregulated and all shops can trade whichever hours they wish. Towns where shopping hours have been deregulated include:
Angaston, Port Pirie, Pt Augusta, Gawler, Quorn, Hawker, Murray Bridge, Berri, Mt Barker, Renmark, Waikerie, Jamestown, Loxton, Clare, Victor Harbour and Mt Gambier. A full list of deregulated shopping districts is available from the National Retail Association.
TASMANIA – TRADING HOURS
Trading hours, in Tasmania, are predominantly deregulated and during this period, 25 December 2020 is the only closed day for major retailers or franchise groups.
| TAS | Friday, 25 December | Monday, 28 December | Friday, 1 January |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Holidays | Christmas Day | Boxing Day | New Year’s Day |
| Trading hours | Closed for major retailers or franchise groups employing more than 250 employees. Other retailers have no restrictions | No restrictions | No restrictions |
VICTORIA – TRADING HOURS
Trading hours in Victoria are predominantly deregulated and during this period Christmas Day is the only closed day.
| VIC | Friday, 25 December | Saturday, 26 December | Monday, 28 December | Friday, 1 January |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Holidays | Christmas Day | Boxing Day | Boxing Day (Additional Day) | New Year’s Day |
| Trading hours | CLOSED except for exempt shops*** | No restrictions | No restrictions | No restrictions |
WESTERN AUSTRALIA – TRADING HOURS
Trading hours restrictions in Western Australia vary depending on the type of shop and the location of the shop.
The Retail Trading Hours Act applies to retail shops in Western Australia, south of the 26th parallel (Shark Bay region). The trading hours of shops located north of the 26th parallel are not regulated and there are no restrictions on trading hours.
Unless special arrangements apply in particular local government areas south of the 26th parallel (excluding Perth), general retail shops are not permitted to open on Sundays and public holidays. Special trading hours have been set down by the WA Government for the 2020/2021 Christmas/ New Year period as outlined below.
Local government authorities outside the Perth metropolitan area can apply to Consumer Protection to extend the trading hours for general retail shops in their district beyond those stipulated in the Act.
| WA | Friday 25 December | Saturday 26 December | Monday 28 December | Friday 1 January |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Holidays | Christmas Day | Boxing Day | Boxing Day (Additional Day) | New Year’s Day |
| Trading hours – General Retail Shops in the Perth Metropolitan Area | Closed | 8am – 6pm | 8am – 6pm | 8am – 6pm |
| Trading hours – Special Retail Shops | 6am – 11:30pm | 6am – 11:30pm | 6am – 11:30pm | 6am – 11:30pm |
| Trading hours – Small Retail Shops; All Shops located north of the 26th parallel | No restrictions | No restrictions | No restrictions | No restrictions |
| Trading hours – Regional and Local Government Areas | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA |
Local Government Areas – Western Australia
| Area | Area | Area |
|---|---|---|
| City of Mandurah | Shire of Dardanup | Shire of Gingin |
| City of Bunbury | Shire of Denmark | Shire of Harvey |
| Shire of August-Margaret River | Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup | City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder |
| Shire of Busselton | Shire of Dundas | Shire of Mingenew |
| Rottnest Island | Shire of Northam | Shire of Narembeen |
| Shire of Dandaragan | Shire of York | Shire of Northampton |
Contact the NRA for details of allowable trading hours of the Christmas/New year period in any of these regions.
Additional Christmas Hours – Western Australia 2020
Every year the WA Government gazettes extended trading hours for non-exempt shops, it is anticipated that affected retailers will be able to trade extra hours. The WA Government in late October approved the following extended trading hours for General Retail Shops in the Perth Metropolitan Area over the Christmas/New Year period:
| Date | Trading Hours | Date | Trading Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday 5 December | 8am – 6pm | Sunday 20 December | 8am – 6pm |
| Sunday 6 December | 8am – 6pm | Monday 21 December | 7am – 9pm |
| Monday 7 December | 8am – 9pm (Normal trade) | Tuesday 22 December | 7am – 9pm |
| Tuesday 8 December | 8am – 9pm (Normal trade) | Wednesday 23 December | 7am – 9pm |
| Wednesday 9 December | 8am – 9pm (Normal trade) | Thursday 24 December | 7am – 9pm |
| Thursday 10 December | 8am – 9pm (Normal trade) | Friday 25 December | CLOSED |
| Friday 11 December | 8am – 9pm (Normal trade) | Saturday 26 December | 8am – 6pm (Boxing Day) |
| Saturday 12 December | 8am – 6pm | Sunday 27 December | 8am – 6pm |
| Sunday 13 December | 8am – 6pm | Monday 28 December | 8am – 6pm (Boxing Day Public Holiday) |
| Monday 14 December | 7am – 9pm | Tuesday 29 December | 8am – 9pm (Normal trade) |
| Tuesday 15 December | 7am – 9pm | Wednesday 30 December | 8am – 9pm (Normal trade) |
| Wednesday 16 December | 7am – 9pm | Thursday 31 December | 8am – 9pm (Normal trade) |
| Thursday 17 December | 7am – 9pm | Friday 1 January 2021 | 8am – 6pm (New Year’s Day) |
| Friday 18 December | 7am – 9pm | Tuesday 26 January 2021 | 8am – 6pm (Australia Day Public Holiday) |
| Saturday 19 December | 8am – 6pm |
