Anzac Day 2018 retail trading hours: A state-by-state guide

Businesses all around Australia are again preparing for an Anzac Day public holiday that will fall within the working week.

Anzac Day is celebrated on April 25 annually and is recognised as a public holiday in all Australian state and territories, regardless of the day it falls on.

However, although it’s a national public holiday, the states and territories abide by different rules.

Follow our guide to ensure that your business is operating within the laws of your state. 

Victoria

What time can Victorian businesses open on Anzac Day?

All businesses are permitted to operate after 1pm. Particular businesses are allowed to trade for the entirety of the public holiday, including but not limited to chemists, petrol stations, restaurants, takeaway outlets and cafes.

Which Victorian businesses are exempt from Victorian public holiday trading laws?

“Exempt shops” are also entitled to operate for the entire day. These include businesses with 20 or fewer employees, or businesses with no more than 100 workers at any time in the seven days prior to Anzac Day.

New South Wales 

What time can NSW businesses open on Anzac Day?
Similarly to Victorian law, most businesses in NSW are not permitted to open prior to 1pm.

Which businesses are exempt from these trading laws?

Bazaars, fairs or markets, if they are conducted for a charitable or public fundraising purpose
Book shops
Cake and pastry shops
Chemists shops
Cooked provision shops
Florists’ shops
Fruit and vegetable shops
Newsagents
Nurseries
Pet shops
Recorded music, video or DVD shops
Restaurants, cafes or kiosks
Seafood shops
Shops ancillary to venues for playing sport or physical recreation
Souvenir shops
Takeaway food and drink shops
Tobacconists’ shops
Vehicle shops, vehicle service centres or petrol stations

A number of local government areas are also exempt.

Australian Capital Territory

What time can ACT businesses operate on Anzac Day?
Businesses in the ACT are entitled to operate the entirety of the day. Many stores still elect to remain closed before 1pm, but this is not a requirement.

Tasmania 

What time can Tasmanian businesses operate on Anzac Day?
All businesses (regardless of size) must be closed until 12.30pm, but there are exceptions.

Which businesses are exempt from operating laws?
Service stations, restaurants, pharmacies, newsagents and cafes are exempt from these laws. 

Shops that are not part of a shopping centre, plaza or mall, and which employed 10 employees or fewer on any day in March the previous year, are also allowed to operate for the entirety of the day, as are shops with express permission from the minister

South Australia

What time can SA businesses operate on Anzac Day?
The majority of South Australian businesses are not permitted to operate before 12pm on Anzac Day, including those in the Adelaide CBD.

Which businesses are exempt from trading restrictions?
Exempt businesses include service stations, cafes, restaurants, real estate auctions and nightclubs and hotels where the main business is selling alcohol. These businesses are asked to remain closed until midday, according to SafeWork SA.

Businesses that fall within deregulated areas have no trading restrictions. These areas include Angaston, Port Pirie, Port Augusta, Gawler, Quorn, Hawker, Murray Bridge, Berri, Mt Barker, Renmark, Waikerie, Jamestown, Loxton, Clare, Victor Harbor and Mount Gambier.

Which business cannot operate on Anzac Day?
No shops in the Greater Adelaide District and the Proclaimed Shopping Districts are permitted to trade for the entire day, without express permission.

Western Australia 

What time can WA businesses operate on Anzac Day?
No general businesses or retail shops are permitted to trade on Anzac Day, unless they fall into the exempt categories.

Who is exempt from these laws?
Small retail shops are exempt from these trading laws, as well as newsagents, pharmacies, video shops and duty free shops (they may trade from 6.00am to 11.30pm). Also exempt are restaurants, cafes, takeaway food stores and retail shops located in public passenger terminals or stations when services are running.  

Northern Territory 

What time can businesses operate on Anzac Day?
As in Australia’s other territory, Anzac Day is considered a normal day of trade in the NT, but many businesses elect not operate prior to 1pm.

Queensland 

What time can Queensland businesses operate?
The Queensland trading laws are divided into three sections on Anzac Day: 

Exempt shops
Newsagents, bread/cake/pastry shops, camping equipment shops, fruit shops, sporting goods shops, pet shops, restaurants, cafes and refreshment shops are entitled to operate for the entirety of the day.

Independent shops
Independent shops are required to remain closed until 1pm. Trade restrictions do not apply to shops that predominantly sell food and/or groceries.

Non-exempt shops
These shops are not allowed to operate for the entirety of ANZAC Day.

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