Retail Drinks Australia has condemned the NSW Government’s decision to declare an additional public holiday in connection with Anzac Day without consultation, warning it will impose further and unnecessary costs on small businesses already struggling to recover from last year’s trading restrictions.

Earlier this week the NSW Government announced an additional public holiday on the Monday following Anzac Day this year and in 2027.

Under the Public Holidays Act 2010, Anzac Day is fixed to 25 April each year regardless of the day on which it falls. In 2026, Anzac Day will fall on a Saturday, and in 2027 it will fall on a Sunday.

The experience of the additional public holidays will form part of a NSW Government review of the state’s public holidays to commence in 2027, that will consider:

• the current number of state-wide public holidays in NSW
• whether NSW should have an additional public holiday
• whether there should be a permanent change to Anzac Day public holiday arrangements when Anzac Day falls on a weekend

The review will be informed by community, business, veteran groups and other stakeholder feedback, as well as the economic and social impacts of the additional public holiday in 2026 and 2027.

Western Australia and ACT had previously been granted an additional public holiday on the following Monday, but the governments of Victoria and Queensland have confirmed they will not be following NSW’s lead and creating a public holiday.

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said: “Anzac Day on 25 April is one of the most important and solemn days on our national calendar, and that will not change.

“We have a tremendous amount of reverence for Anzac Day across our communities, especially among our veterans and their families.

“Each year, thousands of families rise before dawn, gather at local memorials, march alongside veterans and reflect on the service and sacrifice that shaped our nation.

“Adding a public holiday when Anzac Day falls on a weekend will not diminish that tradition. If anything, it is a reminder of its importance and another reason for people to get up, attend a local service and ensure the spirit of remembrance continues to be passed on to the next generation.”

Minister for Industrial Relations Sophie Cotsis said:  “Anzac Day continues to hold important cultural significance across the state as we honour those who served our nation.

“NSW has fewer public holidays than any other state or territory, and that’s something worth examining thoughtfully.

“This review will look at whether the balance is right for workers, families and businesses, and whether there is a case for change going forward.”

However, Retail Drinks said the decision has been made despite ongoing concerns raised by the retail liquor sector about the unresolved impacts of the 2024 Anzac Day trading changes, which forced the majority of NSW bottle shops to close while other liquor licence categories were permitted to trade. 

“This decision has been made behind closed doors, without any proper consultation and without regard to the damage already done to the NSW retail (packaged) liquor sector, of which the majority are small, family-owned businesses,” said Retail Drinks Australia CEO Michael Waters.

“This is not about diminishing the importance of Anzac Day, which retail liquor businesses have long respected and commemorated appropriately.

“This is about fairness and process. Anzac Day should not be used as a vehicle for ad-hoc industrial relations decisions that single out one sector of the economy.

“Last year, around 2400 bottle shops (around 80% of the entire sector in NSW) were forced to shut on Anzac Day and now, without any regard for their rights or concerns,, those same businesses are being told they will have to absorb yet another public holiday, and the penalty rates that come with it, just days later.

“This will only compound the financial pressure on small to medium operators who lost a significant portion of their annual turnover on Anzac Day and are still dealing with rising costs across wages, rent, energy and insurance.

“The Minns Government kicked NSW liquor retailers in the guts last year, and, while they’re still on the ground struggling to get back up, they’ve been kicked in the guts again!

“Small businesses are simply asking for a fair go, and the Minns Government seems incapable of giving them that. Being forced to close on Anzac Day – an important trading day they’ve respectfully held for many years as a key sector within the liquor and hospitality industry – and then being forced to pay public holiday wages on the Monday will make it impossible to recover the loss in trade.”

Waters said the Government had again failed to consult with affected industries, despite repeated assurances that stakeholders would be engaged before decisions with major economic consequences were made.

“The lack of genuine consultation is extraordinary,” Mr Waters said. “Small businesses, workers and regional communities deserved to be at the table long before this decision was made. A review after that fact is too late. 

Retail Drinks Australia has called on the NSW Government to urgently engage with industry, rule out further compounding impacts on retail liquor and address the inequities created by last year’s Anzac Day trading restrictions.