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What's open and what's closed in Queensland on the National Day of Mourning for Queen Elizabeth II?

Thursday's public holiday to mourn the Queen is a one-in-70-year event.

Each state has passed its own rules for The National Day of Mourning for Queen Elizabeth II.

Here is what you need to know if you're in Queensland.

Why are we getting a public holiday?

The federal government announced the holiday to coincide with the Queen's Australian memorial service in Canberra.

In a snap sitting of Queensland parliament last week, the state government passed laws on what would and wouldn't be open for the one-off holiday.

What will be open and what will be closed?

Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace explained the holiday would operate like Australia Day or People's Day at the Ekka.

That means supermarkets, cafes and retailers would be able to open, but with reduced, public holiday trading hours.

Banks will be closed for the day, as will vacation care at schools, and child care centres.

Other businesses, including licensed venues like restaurants and small, independent retailers, will not be restricted.

It won't be what's known as a "closed" public holiday, like Christmas or Anzac Day, where some businesses must shut for the day.

What about hospitals?

Ms Grace passed on the message from Queensland Health that hospitals would be open but there could be some impacts.

"Our hospitals may need to consider rescheduling some non-urgent care on a case-by-case basis, particularly where the National Day of Mourning for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II impacts workforce and patient availability," Ms Grace said.

Queensland Health said in a statement the Palaszczuk government was still "working through any impacts" the public holiday would have on health services.

Urgent care will be prioritised.

Do I have to work?

The Fair Work Ombudsman states on their website that workers have the right to be away from work on a public holiday. 

But businesses will be allowed to trade, so you won't automatically get the day off.

Should I get penalty rates if I'm working?

Absolutely. The usual public holiday penalties will apply.

Ms Grace said the state government had passed a minor amendment to the Industrial Relations Act to ensure people working the public holiday received the relevant entitlements.

Are cafes allowed to put their prices up?

Cafes and restaurants are allowed to increase their prices on certain days, but the rises must be displayed "prominently, clearly and transparently". 

If your local cafe has a Sunday or public holiday surcharge, it's fair to say you can expect to pay a little extra for your almond milk latte on Thursday.

How will people be marking the day?

At 11am, a national memorial service, beginning with one minute's silence, will take place in Canberra's Parliament House.

It will be live streamed to two public viewings in Brisbane's CBD, at King George Square and Queen Street Mall 

The bells at Brisbane City Hall will chime 70 times at 12pm – one for each year of the Queen's reign.

As Queensland's official place of mourning, Government House will host a live, public broadcast of the National Memorial Service, with a big screen erected in the grounds of the Fernberg Estate.

The public holiday will also bring up complicated emotions for some people in Queensland.

Co-Chair of Queensland's Treaty Advancement Committee, Jackie Huggins, said the Day of Mourning would be "very vexed" for many First Peoples.

"I can really understand the angst of our people. The Queen is supposed to be apolitical, but her institutions that served her certainly weren't, in terms of colonisation, brutality and even theft of land," she said.

"I think now is the time to, of course, observe that she was a great leader, personally, but just in terms of what was represented by that and how our people were colonised under the British crown – the British rule is still something which still really offends us.

"Perhaps we should separate the Queen, as an individual, from the monarchy and the institutions that continue to oppress Aboriginal people."

Will events scheduled for Thursday go ahead?

It seems most will.

The Socceroos home farewell before they head to Qatar for the World Cup will go ahead against New Zealand at Lang Park. 

Free and ticketed events planned for the Brisbane Festival will also go ahead. 

Will we still get a public holiday Queen's Birthday in October?

Yes, the public holiday on the first Monday in October will still be called the Queen's birthday, but this will be the last. It will be renamed the "King's Birthday" from next year.

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