Easter Saturday vs Easter Monday: The Public Holiday Split That Divides Australia
By Working Day Calculator Team (Last updated: January 24, 2026)
Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays everywhere in Australia. Easter Saturday is not. Easter Sunday is not either, despite widespread trading restrictions and penalty rates in many awards.
That split catches employers and employees every year, especially those operating across multiple states. If you assume Easter is a four-day public holiday everywhere, you will be wrong in Western Australia and Tasmania.
If you want the official rule detail, see the Public Holidays info page. If you need practical scenarios, see Use Cases.
The Easter weekend reality
The common assumption is that Easter is a four-day public holiday. The reality is different:
| Day | Public holiday? |
|---|---|
| Good Friday | Yes - all states |
| Easter Saturday | No - WA and TAS |
| Easter Sunday | No - all states |
| Easter Monday | Yes - all states |
Most Australians work in states where Easter Saturday is a public holiday, so the assumption feels true. But for WA and Tasmania, Easter Saturday is a normal Saturday.
The state-by-state position
Easter Saturday is a public holiday in
- New South Wales
- Victoria
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Northern Territory
- Australian Capital Territory
Easter Saturday is not a public holiday in
- Western Australia
- Tasmania
Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday is not a public holiday in any state. However, most states have trading restrictions and many awards apply Sunday penalty rates regardless of public holiday status.
Tasmania's Easter Tuesday twist
Tasmania does not have Easter Saturday as a public holiday. Instead, it has Easter Tuesday—but with a catch.
Easter Tuesday is a restricted public holiday in Tasmania. It is observed by state public servants and applies under some awards and enterprise agreements, but it is not a universal public holiday for all Tasmanian workers.
That creates a unique pattern:
- Good Friday: public holiday
- Easter Saturday: normal Saturday
- Easter Sunday: normal Sunday
- Easter Monday: public holiday
- Easter Tuesday: restricted public holiday (TAS only—check your award)
For Tasmania, the "extra" day is Tuesday, not Saturday. But whether you are entitled to it depends on your employment arrangement. Check your award or agreement.
Why the split exists
Public holidays are set by states, not the federal government. The seven national holidays are agreed across all states, but Easter Saturday is not one of them.
WA and Tasmania made different historical choices decades ago. Those choices remain in their legislation. There is no serious push to harmonise the Easter rules across Australia.
Practical implications for employers
Penalty rates
- Easter Saturday: public holiday penalty rates apply in NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, NT, ACT
- Easter Saturday: normal Saturday rates in WA and TAS
- Easter Sunday: no public holiday rate under NES, but Sunday penalty rates often apply
Awards and enterprise agreements can go beyond state legislation, so always check the relevant instrument.
Multi-state businesses
You cannot apply a single Easter policy nationally. Payroll systems must be configured by state. Rosters need to reflect different public holiday entitlements.
Trading restrictions
Easter Sunday often has trading restrictions even though it is not a public holiday. Good Friday restrictions are widespread. Retail and hospitality employers need to check state trading laws and award provisions.
Easter in 2026
Easter falls early in 2026:
- Good Friday: Friday 3 April 2026
- Easter Saturday: Saturday 4 April 2026 (not a public holiday in WA or TAS)
- Easter Sunday: Sunday 5 April 2026 (not a public holiday anywhere)
- Easter Monday: Monday 6 April 2026
- Easter Tuesday: Tuesday 7 April 2026 (Tasmania only)
If you plan rosters or deadlines across states, those dates matter.
How we treat Easter in the calculator
The Working Day Calculator applies the correct state-based holiday rules when you select a state or territory. That means:
- WA and Tasmania exclude Easter Saturday from public holidays
- Tasmania includes Easter Tuesday
- Other states include Easter Saturday
If you are counting business days for contracts or payroll, always select the correct state.
Conclusion
Easter is the most confusing holiday period in Australia because it looks uniform on the surface and is not. Easter Saturday is a public holiday in most states, but not in WA or Tasmania. Tasmania adds Easter Tuesday instead.
If you employ staff across states, build your Easter calendars by jurisdiction and check your awards. If you are counting deadlines, use the calculator with the correct state selected.
FAQ
Q: Is Easter Saturday a public holiday in Perth? A: No. Western Australia does not observe Easter Saturday as a public holiday.
Q: Why does Tasmania have Easter Tuesday instead of Easter Saturday? A: Historical reasons. Tasmania's public holiday legislation adopted Easter Tuesday decades ago and has retained it. Note that Easter Tuesday is a restricted public holiday—it applies to state public servants and some awards, not universally.
Q: Do I get penalty rates for Easter Sunday? A: Not automatically. Easter Sunday is not a public holiday, but many awards provide Sunday penalty rates.
Q: If Easter Saturday is not a public holiday, can I refuse to work? A: There is no automatic right to refuse under the NES. Check your award or enterprise agreement for any special provisions.
Sources to check
- Fair Work Ombudsman public holiday guides
- Public Holidays Act 1972 (WA)
- Statutory Holidays Act 2000 (Tasmania)
- Relevant modern awards (retail, hospitality, fast food)