Another long weekend is upon us, and entrepreneurs across the country are quickly attempting to figure out their legal obligations.
Unfortunately, it’s never easy. With different laws in different states affecting both penalty rates and trading hours, it’s difficult to know what you’re supposed to be doing.
Thankfully, we’ve put in the hard yards and have put together a guide to the Easter trading hours for 2013. If you’re not sure of what you should be doing, we’ve got you covered.
Easter 2013 public holidays and trading hours:
Victoria
In Victoria there will be three public holidays this weekend, on Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Monday. This means employers will need to pay public holiday rates on those days.
Good Friday is also one of the three days subject to restricted trading hours. On these particular days, only exempt shops can open.
Exempt shops are those which employ 20 or fewer people, or employ no more than 100 people in the seven days immediately before the restricted trading day.
Other shops are exempt, such as chemists, petrol stations, restaurants, cafes, takeaway outlets, service providers and hire outlets.
New South Wales
New South Wales is the only state in the country in which the entire weekend is classed as four separate public holidays – Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday.
Good Friday is a restricted trading day, which means shops must have an exemption or come under any one of several categories, including businesses operating in the Trading Precinct, or if your business holds a Hotel Licence.
The full list of categories is available here.
Queensland
Like Victoria, Queensland counts Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Monday as public holidays. Non-exempt shops must remain closed on Good Friday, and only some areas are allowed to open on Easter Sunday.
Independent shops also must be closed on Good Friday.
ACT
In the Australian Capital Territory, Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Monday are all public holidays. Stores can open on any public holiday and there are no trading restrictions.
South Australia
In South Australia, Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Monday are all public holidays.
Public holidays are extremely complicated in South Australia with regard to trading hours, and there are plenty of restrictions and laws based on what size company you own. Generally, Easter trading hours are quite strictly regulated and you’ll need to check where you stand here.
Northern Territory
In the Northern Territory, Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Monday are all public holidays.
Trading hours are unrestricted and businesses can open when they like. Generally, most stores close on Good Friday.
Western Australia
Both Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays. Most stores will close on Good Friday, although are allowed to open on Easter Monday.
Western Australia typically has the most complicated laws when it comes to public holiday trading hours. A full list of all the details is available here.
Tasmania
Tasmania counts both Good Friday and Easter Monday as public holidays. While trading hours are generally unrestricted, some awards do recognise Easter Tuesday as a restricted public holiday. Businesses will need to contact the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce to find out if they will be affected, or the Fair Work Ombudsman.
Patrick Stafford is a freelance journalist and a former deputy editor of SmartCompany.
