The eye-watering cost of eating out on Australia Day revealed
Australians will spend millions in extra surcharge fees on the Monday public holiday, with fresh figures showing how much it will hit your family’s budget.


News.com.au
January 24, 2026

Australians will be slugged millions in unwanted fees as the price of visiting a cafe, the pub or a restaurant surges as business costs skyrocket.

Research from financial comparison platform money.com.au prepared exclusively for NewsWire projects Australians will fork out an additional $26.7 million in public holiday surcharges.


There is no set surcharge customers could be paying, although the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission requires businesses to display these prices on their menu.   :-?

The costs were based on public surcharge estimates using ABS retail data for cafes, restaurants, and takeaway food services, based on Aussies spending $204.8m on Australia Day at an average 15 per cent surcharge.

Australians will spend an estimated $26.7m extra due to surcharges.

In total, Aussies are set to drop $5.58bn across the month of January.

Money.com.au’s finance expert Sean Callery says public holidays can feel like an extra tax on dining out, which Aussies should factor in prior to going out.

“It is not an insignificant extra cost and the important thing is to be prepared and if you are in doubt ask a member of staff how much they charge so you can make an informed decision,” Mr Callery said.

“The most important thing is to understand what the additional cost implications could be.

“If you’re going out for a coffee that would usually cost $7, you will potentially be paying $8 on (Australia Day), while if you’re taking the family out for brunch that usually costs $100 bill it will go up to $115.”




Despite being a pain point for some consumers, Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association chief executive Wes Lambert says trading on public holidays is often a “labour of love”.

“Ultimately small businesses across Australia – including those in hospitality – are required by the Fair Work Act and modern awards to pay penalty rates,” Mr Lambert said.   :)

“In many cases if they were not able to pass those increased wages on they would lose a tremendous amount of money.”

Businesses have taken to adding hefty surcharges to stay open on a public holiday.

Wages typically rise between 225 to 250 per cent for hourly based on whether the staff member was a permanent or casual, with many smaller businesses using surcharges as a way to recoup these funds.

Surcharges will be charged by businesses that face 250 per cent penalty rates.

Mr Lambert says many cafes and restaurants around Australia simply break even or lose money despite the holiday surcharge.

“Typically wage costs are 30 to 40 per cent (of the average cafes) revenue,” he said.

“Now imagine if wages go up 250 per cent. That takes it from 30 to 75 or 40 to effectively 100 per cent.

“This isn’t a question of whether it is reasonable or not reasonable. There are simply certain industries that are very high labour and low margin, hospitality is one of them.

“According to IBIS World, restaurants and cafes will make less than 3 per cent profit in 2026, so we just don’t have the wiggle to absorb public holiday penalty rates.”

Mr Callery agrees, saying it is a tough decision for businesses to make.

“It basically comes down to hospitality venues and their owners making a decision whether it is worthwhile charging the extra fee,” Mr Callery said.


“If they are going to have a busier day on Monday because they are going to turnover more business, they might decide they can absorb the additional staff cost and charge their regular pricing.

“But if the additional turnover won’t cover the staff cost then a surcharge becomes almost essential.”

Mr Callery says it is a challenge for businesses as the day itself has uncertainty, with businesses unsure if they will be able to get an increase in customers over the holiday period.

Yes people that work weekends and public holidays, should get paid the penalty rates.   :)

Quote:

The eye-watering cost of eating out on Australia Day revealed Australians will spend millions in extra surcharge fees on the Monday public holiday, with fresh figures showing how much it will hit your family’s budget.

Solution: Don't eat out on Australia Day. Or any public holiday.

I'm still wondering how we managed to survive many years ago when all the big shops, etc. closed at 12 noon on Saturday and didn't open again until Monday morning.

Tuesday morning if it was a long weekend.

Did a brisket and some homemade snags on the smoker over the long weekend, so our household didn't need to eat out this year.

Last year we grabbed two family-size trays, basically BBQ trays, of lamb biryani from our former local Indian place.

But if we had gone out, I'd happily pay for the people who don't get the day off and are expected to make everyone else's public holiday more enjoyable.

We took mum out to lunch at the local Pub because she’s in a home now - get her out for a while

There was a 15% surcharge on for the day - all in all it was about $95 bucks for the 3 meals and another $20 for drinks 🍷

So i see that as reasonable and just glad that they were open.

Evening meal - just stayed home 🏡 - BBQ and 🍻

And then fuel prices go up for public holidays!
That shouldn’t be allowed! Just keep the fuel prices stable instead of going up .20c per litre  >:(