NSW hospitality venues may close doors as extra Anzac Day holidays spark industry concerns
NSW hospitality operators might be shutting up shop on public holiday Mondays over the next couple of years, as the state braces for back-to-back weekend Anzac Days.
State Premier Chris Minns has rolled out plans for bonus public holidays in 2026 and 2027, compensating workers when Anzac Day lands on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
While April 25 commemorations happen across the country regardless of what day they fall on, only WA and the ACT had previously locked in makeup Mondays when Anzac Day hits a weekend.
Minns isn't worried the extra day off will water down the significance of Anzac Day itself, saying NSW residents can be "trusted" not to skip commemorations.
"We expect big participation, major crowds," Minns told reporters on Sunday, The Canberra Times reports.
RSL NSW has given the change a tick of approval after member consultations, with acting president Vince Williams noting some smaller branches might even benefit from the timing.
"I've already had feedback from some smaller RSL organisations that ... it may give them an opportunity to get together on the Monday," Williams said.
But not everyone's celebrating the extended long weekend. The move has left some business groups less than thrilled, something Minns has openly acknowledged.
"We know that it's somewhat of an additional burden for small businesses in particular," he told The Canberra Times. "But this is, we believe, an important thing to do for the state."
Australian Restaurant & Cafe Association boss Wes Lambert is sounding alarm bells about what the extra holiday means for venue operators, warning labour costs could balloon to between 75 and 100 percent of sales.
"So we'll be encouraging cafes and restaurants not to open," Lambert told ABC TV. "It won't just be a public holiday for office workers, it'll be a public holiday for everyone."
He emphasised the industry's razor-thin margins: "Hospitality businesses are on some of the lowest profit margins in history, below three per cent, and they just cannot wear another public holiday in NSW."
Major business lobby Business NSW has stayed quiet on the issue.
The change addresses NSW's position as having fewer public holidays than other mainland states and territories. While Anzac Day is one of 10 nationally recognised holidays in 2026, most Australians score an additional three or four days off. NSW currently only gets two extras – King's Birthday in June and Labour Day in October.
The government plans to review whether the arrangement should become permanent, examining economic and social impacts during the 2026-2027 trial period with input from community, business and veteran groups. The next weekend Anzac Day won't roll around until 2032.
Meanwhile, Victoria has confirmed it won't be matching NSW's move. Victorian minister Harriet Shing pointed out her state already leads the pack with 13 public holidays annually.
"We've got 13 public holidays a year - that's more than any other state," Shing said. "So we don't have any plans to increase that number."
Jonathan Jackson, 16th February 2026
