How long service leave works in Queensland
The full entitlement is 8.6667 weeks at 10 years and a further 4.3333 weeks at 15; after 15 years accrued leave has no qualifying period at all.
The 7-to-10-year pro-rata applies on death; resignation due to illness, injury, incapacity or a domestic or other pressing necessity; dismissal for illness or incapacity; dismissal for reasons other than your conduct, capacity or performance (redundancy is the classic case); or an unfair dismissal. Note the twist: a performance-based dismissal does NOT qualify in Queensland, where in most states any non-misconduct dismissal does.
Casuals and regular part-timers are covered with the same 10-year period — all continuous casual service since 30 March 1994 counts, and a gap of more than 3 months between engagements breaks continuity. Queensland is also unusual in using a whole-of-service hours formula for casuals: total ordinary hours ÷ 52 × 8.6667 ÷ 10 gives your leave in hours, paid at the loaded casual rate.
What sets Queensland apart
Queensland is the only state that keeps its long service leave rules inside a general industrial relations law, the Industrial Relations Act 2016, rather than a standalone Act. The headline numbers match NSW (8.6667 weeks at 10 years), but the pro-rata rules are the strictest in the country on dismissal.
Most states pay pro-rata on any dismissal short of serious misconduct. Queensland pays only when the dismissal is for reasons other than the employee's conduct, capacity or performance. That means a performance-based dismissal at 8 years pays in NSW and WA but not in Queensland, while a redundancy pays everywhere.
Worked example, step by step
Made redundant after 9 years on $1,700 a week.
- Service: 9 years of continuous employment.
- Accrual rule in Queensland: 8.6667 weeks per 10 years of service, counted proportionally.
- Leave accrued: 7.80 weeks.
- Payable on this exit? Yes. Redundancy is a dismissal for reasons other than conduct, capacity or performance, so it qualifies for Queensland pro-rata from 7 years. No leave loading is added to Queensland LSL.
- Gross payout: 7.8000 weeks × $1,700 = $13,260 before tax.
Worked examples
| Scenario | Accrued | Payable? | Gross value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Made redundant at 8 years on $1,750/week | 6.9 wks | Yes | $12,133 |
| Resigned at 8 years on $1,750/week | 6.9 wks | No | — |
| Still employed at 15 years on $1,750/week | 13.0 wks | Can take leave | ≈ $22,750 if taken |
| Resigned for illness at 7 years 6 months on $1,750/week | 6.5 wks | Yes | $11,375 |
| Resigned at 12 years on $1,750/week | 10.4 wks | Yes | $18,200 |
Casuals, part-timers and changing hours
Casuals and regular part-timers in Queensland have the same 10-year qualifying period as full-timers, and all continuous casual service back to 30 March 1994 counts. A gap of more than 3 months between engagements breaks continuity and restarts the clock.
Queensland calculates casual and part-time entitlements from hours, not weeks: total ordinary hours worked over the whole period, divided by 52, multiplied by 8.6667, divided by 10. The result is your leave in hours, paid at the loaded casual rate. There is no 12-month or 5-year averaging rule of the NSW or Victorian kind.
Common mistakes in Queensland
- Assuming any non-misconduct dismissal pays pro-rata. A dismissal for performance or capacity does not qualify in Queensland.
- Adding leave loading. Queensland LSL is paid at the ordinary rate without annual leave loading.
- Forgetting the 15-year step. At 15 years you have 13 weeks in total, and after that leave accrues with no further qualifying period.
How the payout is taxed
Long service leave paid out when you leave is taxed separately from your wages. On a genuine redundancy, leave accrued after 17 August 1993 is withheld at a flat 32%; on a resignation or ordinary dismissal it is taxed at your marginal rate. The final pay calculator applies the right treatment, and the redundancy tax guide explains the rules.
Frequently asked questions
How much long service leave after 10 years in QLD?
8.6667 weeks of paid leave at your ordinary rate (excluding overtime). At 15 years you have 13 weeks in total, and beyond 15 years leave keeps accruing with no further qualifying period.
Do I get pro-rata long service leave if I resign in Queensland?
Only for illness, injury, incapacity or pressing-necessity resignations between 7 and 10 years. An ordinary resignation before 10 years pays nothing in QLD.
How do casuals accrue long service leave in QLD?
By hours: total ordinary hours worked ÷ 52 × 8.6667 ÷ 10, paid at the loaded casual rate. Gaps over 3 months between engagements break continuity.
Is long service leave paid with leave loading in QLD?
No — Queensland LSL is paid at the ordinary rate without annual-leave loading (casuals keep their casual loading).
Does an unfair dismissal qualify for pro-rata LSL in Queensland?
Yes. An unfair dismissal is one of the listed Queensland triggers between 7 and 10 years, alongside death, redundancy-type dismissals and resignations for illness, injury, incapacity or pressing necessity.
Are above-award rates used for Queensland LSL?
Yes. Queensland pays at your actual ordinary rate, including any above-award amount, but excluding overtime.
Verify with the official authority
Queensland long service leave is governed by the Industrial Relations Act 2016 (Qld). The official authority is Queensland Office of Industrial Relations ((07) 3406 9999) — verify your specific situation there before acting, especially where continuity (breaks, business sales, parental leave) is in play.
Other states and tools
- New South Wales LSL calculator
- Victoria LSL calculator
- Western Australia LSL calculator
- South Australia LSL calculator
- Tasmania LSL calculator
- Australian Capital Territory LSL calculator
- Northern Territory LSL calculator
- Pro-rata rules in every state
- Long service leave for casuals — continuity rules compared
- Final pay calculator — combine LSL with notice and leave
Sources
Figures on this page come from the following primary sources. The date is when we last checked the page against the source.
- Long service leave (Queensland) (Business Queensland), checked 7 August 2026.
Rules last verified 2026-08-07. Estimates only. Independent guide — not a government service, and not financial or legal advice.