Easter Sunday in Australia

Meaning and Australian context

For Christians, Easter Sunday celebrates Jesus’ resurrection. The Anglican Church of Australia identifies this as the central meaning of Easter Day; there is no single set of observances across the country.[6]

The main Australia-specific distinction is legal: public holidays are set through national workplace rules and state or territory declarations. The Fair Work Ombudsman explains that a day declared as a public holiday within a state or territory is covered by the National Employment Standards, while its statewide list of standard NES holidays does not separately name Easter Sunday.[1]

Where it is a public holiday

Easter Sunday is expressly a statewide public holiday in New South Wales under the Public Holidays Act 2010. Western Australia made it a public holiday from 2022. Tasmania’s WorkSafe list of statewide public holidays names Good Friday and Easter Monday but does not list Easter Sunday.[2][3][4]

These examples show why a single nationwide answer can mislead. Check the relevant state or territory’s official calendar for the year and locality you will be in; regional holidays and state rules may affect what applies. The Fair Work Ombudsman also notes that public holidays can be substituted in some circumstances, while Western Australia has a specific rule that Easter Sunday itself remains the public holiday for relevant state-system employees.[1][4]

Work and trading

Where Easter Sunday is a public holiday, employees covered by the applicable workplace rules may be absent from work, and full-time or part-time employees are generally paid their base rate for ordinary hours they would have worked. An employer may request work, but whether the request or a refusal is reasonable depends on factors including the workplace’s needs, the employee’s circumstances, and any extra pay. The exact entitlement depends on the employee’s award, agreement and employment system.[1][4]

Shop and bank arrangements can differ from one jurisdiction to another. In New South Wales, Easter Sunday is a restricted trading day: most retail shops must close unless exempt, and bank retail branches must close. The NSW rules also distinguish retail restrictions from liquor licensing rules, so a venue’s opening hours depend on its type, licence and any applicable exemption.[5]

Do not assume that offices, shops, banks, attractions or transport services follow one Australia-wide schedule. Check directly with the relevant service or business, and consult the local government’s holiday and trading information before making plans.[1][5]