A state-by-state guide to Anzac Day 2016 trading hours

Across the country, individuals and businesses are preparing for Anzac Day on April 25.

While Anzac Day falls on a Monday this year, meaning many employees will receive a long weekend, there is still confusion as to whether businesses can trade on the public holiday.

All Australian states and territories recognise Anzac Day as a public holiday but there are different rules as to which businesses can trade on the day and at what time.

Anzac Day is always celebrated on April 25, regardless of the day of the week it falls on.

Here’s a state-by-stage guide to the Anzac Day trading rules for each state and territory:

Victoria

Victorian businesses are not permitted to trade between midnight and 1pm on Anzac Day, unless they fall into the category of “exempt shops”, which includes 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.

All businesses are permitted to open after 1pm, provided they are not specifically forbidden from doing so.

Some shops are free to trade all day, including chemists, petrol stations, cafes, restaurants, takeaway outlets and hire outlets such as video stores.

New South Wales

Most businesses in NSW are also not permitted to open prior to 1pm on Anzac Day. However, exempt or small shops are permitted to trade, including bookshops, chemists, newsagencies, petrol stations and convenience stores.

There are also a number of exempt trading areas, based on local government areas.

Tasmania

Tasmanian businesses cannot open prior to 12.30pm on Anzac Day, although there are some exemptions.

Service stations, pharmacies and newsagents are permitted to trade, as are businesses that are not part of a shopping centre or mall, where the number of employees having worked there in any day during the previous March did not exceed 10.

Australian Capital Territory

Anzac Day is considered a normal trading day in the ACT, however, many businesses choose to following the same tradition as other states and opt not to trade prior to 1pm.

South Australia

Many South Australian businesses are not permitted to trade before midday on Anzac Day, including those in the Adelaide central business district as well as hardware, furniture, floor coverings and motor vehicle parts businesses.

In the Greater Adelaide shopping district and other proclaimed shopping districts, non-exempt businesses are not permitted to trade on Anzac Day.

Exempt businesses include service stations, restaurants, cafes, real estate auctions and nightclubs and hotels where the main business is selling alcohol.

Queensland

Independent shops are not permitted to open prior to 1pm on Anzac Day, unless they are predominantly food and/or grocery stores. Supermarkets are closed in particular areas, including the Gold Coast, Cairns CBD and Port Douglas.

Entertainment providers, including cinemas, amusement parks and sporting events are not permitted to trade prior to 1.30pm, unless they have express permission to do so.

Like most other states, some businesses are exempt from these trading regulations. These include businesses involved in printing, publishing and distributing newspapers, utility companies, mining businesses, those supplying milk, bakeries, cafes and takeaway food kitchens.

Northern Territory

Like the ACT, Anzac Day is considered a normal day of trade in the NT. However, many businesses choose not to open prior to 1pm.

Western Australia

General retail shops and businesses in the Perth metropolitan area cannot trade on Anzac Day, with the exemption of small shops.

However, stores that are classified as “special retail shops” can trade between 6am and 11.30pm. These businesses include pharmacies, garden nurseries, hardware and home improvement businesses, newsagencies and bookshops, boating shops, shops at sporting venues and shops at international standard hotels.