How much long service leave do you get in each state?

Long service leave comes from state and territory law, so the rules change at the border. Each state's entitlement, when it is paid out and the portable schemes.

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Long service leave comes from state and territory law, so how much you get depends on where you work. In WA, NSW, Queensland and Tasmania it is 8.67 weeks after 10 years of continuous service. South Australia and the Northern Territory give 13 weeks after 10 years. Victoria and the ACT let you take about 6 weeks after 7 years.

The figures below are as at October 2026.

How does long service leave compare across the states?

State or territory Full entitlement Pro rata payment when you leave
Western Australia 8.667 weeks after 10 years After 7 years
New South Wales 8.67 weeks after 10 years From 5 years, for listed reasons
Victoria 1 week for every 60 weeks, from 7 years Unused leave paid out after 7 years
Queensland 8.6667 weeks after 10 years From 7 years, for listed reasons
South Australia 13 weeks after 10 years After 7 years, with exceptions
Tasmania 8⅔ weeks after 10 years May apply from 7 years
ACT 6.0667 weeks after 7 years From 5 years, for listed reasons
Northern Territory 13 weeks after 10 years From 7 years, for listed reasons

How does long service leave work in WA?

The WA Long Service Leave Act 1958 covers many private sector employees, including casual and seasonal workers. You get 8.667 weeks after 10 years of continuous employment, then 4.333 weeks for every further 5 years. After 7 years you may be paid out when your employment ends through resignation, dismissal, redundancy or death.

How does long service leave work in NSW?

The Long Service Leave Act 1955 covers full-time, part-time and casual workers. It gives 8.67 weeks after 10 years and 4.33 weeks for each further 5 years. Between 5 and 10 years, pro rata pay applies for listed reasons, including dismissal for anything other than serious and wilful misconduct. NSW Industrial Relations says cashing it out is an offence.

How does long service leave work in Victoria?

Under the Long Service Leave Act 2018, leave accrues at one week for every 60 weeks of continuous service, about 0.866 of a week a year, for full-time, part-time, casual, seasonal and fixed-term workers. After 7 years you can take it, and unused leave is paid out if your employment ends. Cashing out is unlawful in most cases.

How does long service leave work in Queensland?

The Industrial Relations Act 2016 gives 8.6667 weeks after 10 years, 4.3333 more after another 5 years, and after that leave as it accrues. Between 7 and 10 years, pro rata pay applies for listed reasons, including illness, a domestic or other pressing necessity, unfair dismissal and dismissal for a reason other than your conduct, capacity or performance. Cashing in needs an award or agreement that allows it, or a Queensland Industrial Relations Commission order.

How does long service leave work in South Australia?

Under the Long Service Leave Act 1987 you get 13 weeks after 10 years, then 1.3 weeks for each later year. After 7 years you are paid 1.3 weeks for each completed year when you leave, unless you are dismissed for serious and wilful misconduct or end the job unlawfully, such as without the required notice. After 10 years you and your employer can agree in writing to cash it out.

How does long service leave work in Tasmania?

The Long Service Leave Act 1976 gives 8⅔ weeks after 10 years and 4⅓ weeks for each further 5 years, and pro rata pay may apply from 7 years. Casual and part-time employees qualify if they regularly work 32 hours or more in every four-week period. You can cash it in by agreement with your employer.

How does long service leave work in the ACT?

The Long Service Leave Act 1976 mainly covers ACT private sector employees who aren't covered by an award or agreement. You get 6.0667 weeks after 7 years of continuous service, plus 1/5 of a month for each later year. Between 5 and 7 years, pro rata pay applies for listed reasons, including dismissal for anything other than serious and wilful misconduct.

How does long service leave work in the NT?

The Long Service Leave Act 1981 gives 13 weeks after 10 years, worked out at 1.3 weeks a year, and casual employment counts. You can't cash it in. Between 7 and 10 years, pro rata pay applies for listed reasons, including reaching retirement age and dismissal for anything other than serious misconduct. After 10 years, untaken leave is paid out when you resign.

Who gets long service leave from somewhere other than state law?

If a federal award made before 1 January 2010 had long service leave terms covering your employer, those terms apply instead of state law. Enterprise agreements made since then can include their own terms. The NSW, Tasmanian and NT pages send government employees to their own arrangements.

What is CoINVEST long service leave?

CoINVEST runs the portable long service leave scheme for Victoria's construction industry and has traded as LeavePlus since 2023. Employers pay a charge of 2.7% of ordinary pay into the fund, which is not taken from your wages. With 7 years (1,820 days) of continuous service across construction employers, you can claim 1.3 weeks for each full year of service since 1 July 2002, which is 9.1 weeks after 7 years. You can leave the industry for up to 4 years without losing your service.

Every state and territory has portable schemes for some industries, such as building and construction, contract cleaning, community services and security. In Victoria, the Portable Long Service Authority covers community services, contract cleaning and security.

This is general information, not legal or financial advice.

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