National Day of Mourning for Australia public holiday: What’s open today

Australia has been granted a one-off public holiday to mourn the Queen. Here’s what it means for shops, pubs, schools and hospitals today.

Australia has been granted a one-off public holiday to officially mourn the Queen’s life on a today, but many are still left wondering how it will logistically unfold after the last-minute day off was announced with short notice.

The National Day of Mourning takes place today, Thursday, September 22, which for Victorians will result in a four-day weekend due to the Friday being AFL grand final eve.

In other states, workers have been given a midweek day off to honour the monarch’s life.

As a one-off, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the day would “allow people to pay their respects for the passing of Queen Elizabeth”.

The reason behind the holiday’s timing, being days after the Queen’s funeral and the UK’s national morning period, is that Mr Albanese and Governor-General David Hurley did not return from London until yesterday.

Around the country, schools will be closed and in some instances elective surgeries have been cancelled; however, many major retail outlets will remain open.

Woolworths stores across the country will be open on Thursday for the National Day of Mourning. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty.

WOOLWORTHS

Woolworths stores will remain open in all states and territories.

• In NSW and the ACT, most will stores will be open from 7am – 9pm;
• In Victoria, most stores will be open between 7am – 10pm;
• In Queensland, most stores will be open from 9am – 6pm;
• In South Australia, most stores will open at 12pm until 9pm;
• In Western Australia, all stores are open except in Esperance and Katanning;
• In the Northern Territory, all stores are open 8am – 8pm;
• In Tasmania, all stores are open from 7am – 10pm.

COLES

Coles stores will remain open across the country; however, the supermarket giant is encouraging customers to check the opening hours of their local stores.

ALDI

Stores across the country will be open on Thursday; however, any store that usually trades later than 8pm will close at 8pm.

IGA

Most IGA stores across the country will be open; however, given they are independent family-owned businesses, an IGA spokesperson said customers should check with their local store before heading out the door.

Melbourne pubs will be open on the public holiday. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Several states have confirmed what will be allowed to stay open, with NSW mimicking the rules of Australia Day and New Year’s Day.

NSW

Shops and retailers in the state can trade as they normally would on public holidays and schoolchildren will also get the day off.

Pubs and restaurants can also operate, as the commemoration will not be a “restricted trading day” such as Good Friday or Anzac Day.

However, banks and other financial institutions are expected to be closed.

Elective surgery is expected to go ahead as usual.

Australia prepares to officially mourn the Queen’s life on a specially provisioned public holiday. Picture: Getty

VICTORIA

Victoria confirmed that Thursday “will be a normal trading day” in line with the likes of grand final Friday.

This means pubs and restaurants’ opening hours won’t be impacted and they are free to operate as usual.

However, the timing isn’t good news for Victorian schoolchildren, who will miss out on an extra day off due to it falling during their school holidays.

“Employers and employees seeking information about their rights and responsibilities regarding public holidays should seek advice from their business organisations or relevant unions,” the state government said.

QUEENSLAND

Schools will be closed on Thursday, with trading hours to be “similar to Australia Day”, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.

Public transport will run on a Sunday timetable; however, standard event services will run two hours before and one hour after the Socceroos v New Zealand football match at Suncorp Stadium.

Some states will have restricted trading hours next Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Paul Jeffers

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

In South Australia, the state’s typically strict retail rules have been altered in a one-off exemption to the Shop Trading Hours Act.

Retailers will be allowed to trade between noon and 9pm – similar to Anzac Day – as a mark of respect for the Queen.

Banks and childcare centres will shut and GPs in the state have been given the choice to stay open.

Schools will also close along with the cancellation of extra-curricular activities and school events.

Bottle shops will remain open in some states next Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Steven Saphore

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

In Western Australia, schools will close for the day, and normal public holiday trading hours will apply.

General retail shops in the Perth metropolitan area will be able to trade between 11am and 5pm, as part of the standard public holiday trading hours.

General retail shops in regional WA are ordinarily closed on public holidays.

Schoolchildren in the state will also miss an extra day off due to the occasion falling in their school holidays.

Royal guards carry Queen Elizabeth's coffin into St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland.

ACT, TASMANIA AND NORTHERN TERRITORY

In the ACT and Northern Territory, retail and hospitality businesses will operate as usual on public holidays.

Tasmanians can expect more of the same, but elective surgeries may be impacted.

Australian Retailers Association chief executive Paul Zahra said the public holiday would “create some complications” for staff and bosses across the country.

“There will also be a small but unexpected loss of trade and additional staffing costs, which may impact cashflows for small businesses,” he said.

“Store opening and closing directions are typically established by the states and territories, and we look forward to their direction today so retailers can plan accordingly.”

Originally published as National Day of Mourning for Australia public holiday: What’s open today