Late Night Hospitality Finish — Do I Get Transport Paid?
Last updated: March 2026 · MA000009
It depends on your circumstances — and many workers who qualify never receive it. The Hospitality Award has limited provisions around late-night transport, but some employees finishing after midnight may be entitled to employer-arranged transport or a reimbursement under specific conditions. This is separate from the late-night loading that applies to your hourly rate.
If you regularly finish hospitality shifts after midnight — this applies to you.
The rule
Under the Hospitality Award (MA000009), the primary financial compensation for late-night work is the late-night loading — an additional $0.00/hr applied to all hours worked between midnight and 7am on top of any other applicable rate.
On the question of transport specifically: the award does not contain a blanket transport entitlement for all late-night workers. However, some enterprise agreements or venue-specific arrangements do include transport provisions — check your employment contract or any applicable enterprise agreement.
What is required: the late-night loading on every hour worked after midnight. This is frequently missed and is itself a meaningful entitlement.
What you should be paid for late nights
- 7pm–midnight: +$0.00/hr (evening loading) on top of applicable rate
- Midnight–7am: +$0.00/hr (late-night loading) on top of applicable rate
These apply on top of whatever day rate (weekday, Saturday, Sunday, or public holiday) is in effect.
If you regularly finish after midnight and your rate doesn't reflect the late-night loading, Check your late-night loadings →
What this costs you
The late-night loading of $0.00/hr applies to every hour after midnight. Working 3 nights per week finishing at 2am (2 hours of late-night time each): $0.00 × 2hrs × 3 nights = approximately $0.00/week in missed loading. Over a year: ~$0.00.
What to check
- Does your payslip show an evening loading for hours after 7pm?
- Does it show a higher late-night loading for hours after midnight?
- Check your employment contract or enterprise agreement — it may include transport provisions not in the standard award.
Frequently asked questions
My shift ends at 1am — is the whole shift paid at late-night rates?
No. Only the hours after midnight attract the late-night loading. Hours before midnight attract the evening loading (7pm–midnight) or the ordinary/weekend rate before 7pm.
My employer provides a taxi home after midnight — do I still get the loading?
Yes. The loading is a pay entitlement that applies to the hours worked regardless of any transport arrangements.
I have to pay for my own transport home — can I claim it?
Under the standard Hospitality Award, there's no automatic reimbursement for transport home. However, if you were required to work late due to your employer's direction and public transport is unavailable, some arrangements may apply. Check your enterprise agreement or raise it with the Fair Work Ombudsman.
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