Easter Saturday in Australia
Easter Saturday is the day after Good Friday, between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Its public holiday status is set by state and territory rules: it is recognised in most Australian jurisdictions, but not in Western Australia or Tasmania.[1][2][3]
Meaning and observance
In Christian observance, Holy Saturday is part of the Easter Triduum, the period that leads from Good Friday to Easter Sunday. In Catholic practice, the Easter Vigil takes place at night, as the Church awaits and celebrates the Resurrection; observances differ among churches and individuals.[6]
Australia’s legal designation of the day is a public holiday, not a single national ceremony or custom. In some places it is officially described as “the day after Good Friday”; the holiday’s name and legal basis depend on the jurisdiction.[1][3][4]
Where it is a public holiday
Easter Saturday is a public holiday in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria. Western Australia and Tasmania do not recognise Easter Saturday as a public holiday. The relevant state or territory’s law determines which days are declared public holidays.[1]
For example, New South Wales law names Easter Saturday and defines it as the day after Good Friday. Queensland law also declares a public holiday on the day after Good Friday, while South Australia’s Public Holidays Act names that day Easter Saturday.[2][3][4]
Work and practical planning
Under the National Employment Standards, employees can be absent from work on a public holiday, though an employer may ask an employee to work if the request is reasonable. Full-time and part-time employees who do not work are generally entitled to their base pay for ordinary hours; award or agreement terms may affect pay for work on the day.[5]
Opening arrangements are local. In New South Wales, Easter Saturday is not a restricted retail trading day, while Good Friday and Easter Sunday are; individual businesses can still set their own hours. Banks, public services, shops and transport may follow different schedules, so check the relevant state or territory guidance and confirm directly with a provider before travelling.[7]
Date and substitute days
Easter Saturday moves each year because it is tied to Good Friday: it falls on the following Saturday. The public holiday rules and any substitute days are determined by the relevant jurisdiction, so check its official calendar for the applicable arrangements.[2][3][4][5]
Frequently asked questions
Is Easter Saturday a public holiday everywhere in Australia?
No. It is recognised as a public holiday in most states and territories, but Western Australia and Tasmania do not recognise it as one.[1]
When is Easter Saturday?
Do employees get the day off?
Where Easter Saturday is a public holiday, employees have a right to be absent under the National Employment Standards, although an employer may request work if the request is reasonable. Pay arrangements depend on the applicable workplace instrument and circumstances.[5]
Are shops and services open?
Hours vary by jurisdiction and business. In New South Wales, Easter Saturday is not a restricted retail trading day, but businesses choose their own hours; confirm with shops, transport providers and other services directly.[7]
Sources and references
Sources used for Easter Saturday in Australia:
- Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement: Public Holiday Review- Government of Western Australia
- Public Holidays Act 2010 No 115, Part 2- NSW Government
- Holidays Act 1983- Queensland Government
- Public Holidays Act 2023- Government of South Australia
- Public holidays fact sheet- Fair Work Ombudsman
- The Easter Triduum- National Liturgical Council, Australian Catholic Bishops Conference
- Trading on public holidays in NSW- NSW Government