Public Holiday Pay in Australia
All employees (including part-time and casual) are entitled to be absent from work on a public holiday, except where reasonably requested to work. Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to be paid their base rate for public holidays they don't work (if the holiday falls on a day they would normally work).
Public Holiday Penalty Rates
When employees work on a public holiday, they are generally entitled to penalty rates. Under most Modern Awards, the rate for working on a public holiday is 250% of the base rate for full-time and part-time employees. Casual employees typically receive 275% (250% + 25% casual loading).
Substitute Days
When a public holiday falls on a weekend, a substitute day (usually the following Monday) may be observed instead. The rules vary by state and territory. Some awards also allow employers and employees to agree to substitute a different day for the public holiday.
State and Territory Differences
Each state and territory has its own additional public holidays beyond the national ones. For example, Victoria has Melbourne Cup Day, Queensland has Royal Queensland Show Day, and the ACT has Reconciliation Day and Family & Community Day.