Tasmania's Anzac Day trading regulations
Under the Anzac Day Observance Act 1929, it is an offence to open a shop before 12:30 pm on Anzac Day. If a non-exempt shop is open before 12:30 pm, the occupier may be fined under section 5A of the Act. A non-exempt shop will be considered open if it:
- is unlocked or open for public admission
- sells goods to customers
- seeks orders from customers
- delivers goods to customers.
Exempt shops
The Anzac Day trading restrictions do not apply to:
- shops approved for opening before 12:30 pm
- pharmacies
- newsagents
- bottle shops
- cafes and restaurants
- service stations
- car yards
- real estate agents (to the extent that they are conducting an auction at the premises)
- shops that are not part of a large shopping complex with many shops and the number of employees in that shop on any day in the most recent month of March is not more than 10 people.
It is an offence to require an employee to work on Anzac Day (or any other public holiday) without the employee’s written agreement. If you do not comply with this, you may be fined under the Act.
Applying for an exemption
If your shop is not exempt from the Anzac Day trading restrictions, you may apply for an exemption. Considerations for exemptions include:
- The needs of the relevant community, including organisations that support veterans and their families, such as the Returned and Services League (RSL).
- The effect on the community if the shop is not kept open.
- Not undermining the controls on trading hours in Tasmania's Shop Trading Hours Act.
Applications for exemptions open every year in the lead up to Anzac Day. You must apply for an exemption each year.
Contact
veterans@dpac.tas.gov.au
