# Easter Saturday Public Holiday Status in Australia (FY2025-26)

Easter Saturday is **not uniformly a public holiday across Australia**. Its status varies by jurisdiction.

## Jurisdictional Breakdown

**Easter Saturday IS a public holiday:**
- New South Wales
- Australian Capital Territory
- Northern Territory
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Victoria

**Easter Saturday IS NOT a public holiday:**
- Queensland
- Western Australia

**Partial recognition:**
- In some cases, employees in Queensland and Western Australia may receive a substitute day off or penalty rates apply, depending on their employment agreement and industry award, but Easter Saturday itself is not gazetted as a public holiday.

## What the Answer Turns On

An employee's entitlement to Easter Saturday as a public holiday depends on:

1. **Which state or territory they work in** – this is the primary determinant
2. **Their employment contract or applicable award** – may provide additional entitlements beyond the statutory minimum
3. **Their employer's industry** – some awards provide Easter Saturday as a paid day off even in jurisdictions where it is not a public holiday

## Conclusion

The payroll officer cannot give a single answer applicable to all Australian employees. The correct response is: **"It depends on which state or territory your employees work in."** Easter Saturday is a public holiday in 6 of 8 Australian jurisdictions, but not in Queensland or Western Australia.