The ACT recognises Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day as public holidays. Trading is deregulated in the ACT, so businesses can choose if they want to open. Most do not.
Like the other states, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day are all public holidays in the Northern Territory. Trading hours are mostly deregulated for stores except for some which sell liquor.
Western Australia observes all three public holidays, but the trading hours are some of the most complicated in the country.
General retail shops must remain closed on Christmas Day. Any general retail shop is one classified under categories including small shops, special retail, service stations or motor vehicle. You can look up definitions for all those stores here.
South Australia observes all three major days as public holidays, except that Boxing Day is called Proclamation Day.
South Australia’s trading laws have changed this year. Although “non-exempt shops” such as supermarkets and department stores cannot open on public holidays, along with January 1, some speciality shops can trade.
The major change is that city stores will be able to open from 11am to 5pm on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Stores will also be able to open from 9am on December 23.
All traders will be able to stay open until midnight tonight, December 21.
The other big change is that certain times have been designated as public holidays: between 7pm and midnight on Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Eve. Staff working those times will need to be paid higher penalty rates.
Tasmanian law notes Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day are all public holidays. Shops must be closed on Christmas Day, but shops can open on the other days.
This story first appeared on SmartCompany.
Patrick Stafford is a freelance journalist and a former deputy editor of SmartCompany.
