# Labour Day Public Holiday in Australia – 2026

## No Single National Date Exists

There is **no single national Labour Day date** in Australia. The holiday is set by each State and Territory under its own legislation, goes by different names in different places, and falls on entirely different calendar dates around the country. A payroll officer who applies one date to all employees would be wrong for the majority of them. The correct date is always the one that applies **in the jurisdiction where the employee actually performs their work** — not where the employer is headquartered or registered.

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## 2026 Dates by Jurisdiction

| Jurisdiction | Holiday Name | Governing Rule | 2026 Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Western Australia** | Labour Day | 1st Monday in March | **Monday 2 March 2026** |
| **Victoria** | Labour Day | 2nd Monday in March | **Monday 9 March 2026** |
| **Tasmania** | Eight Hours Day | 2nd Monday in March | **Monday 9 March 2026** |
| **Queensland** | Labour Day | 1st Monday in May | **Monday 4 May 2026** |
| **Northern Territory** | May Day | 1st Monday in May | **Monday 4 May 2026** |
| **South Australia** | Adelaide Cup *(see note)* | 2nd Monday in May | **Monday 11 May 2026** |
| **New South Wales** | Labour Day | 1st Monday in October | **Monday 5 October 2026** |
| **ACT** | *(see note)* | — | — |

> **SA note:** South Australia does not have a public holiday formally called "Labour Day." The Adelaide Cup race-day holiday in May is the relevant mid-autumn gazetted holiday. Payroll officers should verify SA's annually gazetted schedule.
>
> **ACT note:** The ACT observes **Canberra Day** (2nd Monday in March = **9 March 2026**) and **Reconciliation Day** (Monday on or after 27 May = **Monday 1 June 2026** in 2026, since 27 May 2026 is a Wednesday — verify against the gazetted list). There is no ACT holiday specifically titled "Labour Day." Confirm current dates at the ACT Government public holidays register.

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## Day-of-Week Working (2026)

2026 is not a leap year. 1 January 2026 = **Thursday**.

| Key Date | Calculation | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 1 March 2026 | Jan 1 + 59 days; 59 mod 7 = 3; Thu + 3 | **Sunday** |
| → 1st Monday in March | | **2 March** |
| → 2nd Monday in March | | **9 March** |
| 1 May 2026 | Jan 1 + 120 days; 120 mod 7 = 1; Thu + 1 | **Friday** |
| → 1st Monday in May | | **4 May** |
| → 2nd Monday in May | | **11 May** |
| 1 October 2026 | Jan 1 + 273 days; 273 mod 7 = 0; Thu + 0 | **Thursday** |
| → 1st Monday in October | | **5 October** |

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## Practical Payroll Checklist

1. **Identify the work location** for each employee — payable public holidays are determined by the State or Territory where the work is performed, regardless of where the employing entity is based.
2. **Check gazetted schedules annually** — governments occasionally substitute or move dates by proclamation (e.g. when a public holiday falls on a weekend); the rule-based date above may not be the final gazetted date.
3. **Do not apply a single national date** — a multi-state payroll that treats one date as universal will underpay or overpay penalty rates and entitlements in every other jurisdiction.
4. **Consult the relevant source legislation** — e.g. the *Public Holidays Act 2010* (NSW), the *Public Holidays Act 1993* (Vic), the *Industrial Relations Act 1999* (Qld), and equivalent instruments in other jurisdictions.