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Can I open my shop on a public holiday?

Restricted trading days

Victorian law specifies that there are two and a half restricted trading days each year:

  • Good Friday
  • Christmas Day
  • between 12.01 am and 1pm on ANZAC Day.

On these particular days, only exempt shops are permitted to open.

Exempt shops

Exempt shops are businesses that meet the following criteria:

  • they have 20 or fewer persons employed in the shop at any time during a restricted trading day
  • the number of persons employed by the business and its related entities is no more than 100 at any time during the 7 days immediately before the restricted trading day

Exemptions to restricted trading days

Certain types of business are exempt from any restricted trading days. They can open whenever they wish throughout the year. The types of business that are exempt are:

  • chemists
  • petrol shops
  • restaurants
  • cafes
  • takeaway outlets
  • service providers
  • hire outlets (including video stores).
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