A: Local public holidays in NSW are gazetted under the Banks and Bank Holidays Act 1912. This Act requires that banks are closed on local public holidays.

An appointed local holiday under the Act benefits employees who have an industrial award, agreement or contract of employment which confers a right of paid absence (or penalty rates in lieu) on the local public holiday.

In the absence of such express coverage within an applicable industrial instrument, the conferring of the benefit of a local public holiday to employees is entirely within the discretion of individual employers.

Refer to information from your local state Industrial Relations web site. Here in NSW for example, go to http://www.industrialrelations.nsw.gov.au/ for a wealth of information on topics such as this and many others relating to employement relations.

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