Damon Mcknight
Australia's states do not uniformly observe daylight saving time (DST). While some states like New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory observe DST, others like Queensland, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory do not. The history of DST in Australia reveals varied adoption and abandonment, with Queensland abandoning DST in 1972 after adopting it the previous year. Western Australia has also notably debated DST in referendums four times, with all attempts being defeated.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| States observing Daylight Saving Time | New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Australian Capital Territory, Jervis Bay Territory, and Norfolk Island |
| States not observing Daylight Saving Time | Queensland, Western Australia, and Northern Territory |
| Time change during Daylight Saving Time | Clocks are moved forward by one hour when DST commences and back by one hour when it ends |
| DST start and end timings | DST begins on the first Sunday of October and ends on the first Sunday of April |
| Year of DST adoption | 1967 in Tasmania; 1971 in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and Australian Capital Territory (Queensland abandoned DST in 1972) |
| Referendums on DST | Queensland (1992) and Western Australia (1975, 1984, 1992, 2009) – all resulted in 'no' votes |
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What You'll Learn
- Daylight Saving Time (DST) is observed in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory
- Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory do not observe DST
- Queensland abandoned DST in 1972
- Western Australia has voted 'no' to DST four times
- DST was first used in Australia during World War I
Daylight Saving Time (DST) is observed in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory
Daylight Saving Time (DST) is observed in a few Australian states and territories, including New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). During DST, the clocks in these regions are turned forward by one hour, resulting in longer evenings and an extra hour of daylight during the summer months.
The implementation of DST varies across Australia, with different start and end dates depending on the region. In New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and the ACT, DST typically begins on the first Sunday of October and ends on the first Sunday of April. On the other hand, South Australia's DST schedule differs slightly, with a later start date in October and the same end date in April.
The decision to observe DST is determined by each state or territory. Queensland, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory have chosen not to adopt DST, maintaining a consistent time throughout the year. This decision reflects the geographical and regional differences in opinion on DST within these states, with some areas closer to the equator experiencing less significant variations in daylight duration throughout the year.
The history of DST in Australia dates back to World War I and World War II, when it was federally mandated across all states and territories. After the wars, DST was gradually reintroduced, with Tasmania leading the way in 1967 due to a drought. Other states, including New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, followed suit in 1971, with Queensland initially joining but later abandoning DST in 1972.
Today, DST continues to be a topic of debate in Australia, with some states like Queensland considering referendums and trials to gauge public opinion on the matter. The impact of DST on sleep patterns and daily routines has also been a subject of interest, with recommendations in place for employees and employers to address any adjustments in work schedules or payments during the transition periods.
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Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory do not observe DST
Queensland abandoned DST in 1972, just one year after adopting it in 1971. There has been a particularly involved debate over DST in the state, with public opinion geographically divided. A referendum on DST was held in Queensland on 22 February 1992, following a three-year trial, but it was defeated with a 54.5% 'no' vote. The 'no' vote was strongest in the north and west regional districts, while the 'yes' vote was strongest in the metropolitan south-east. Since the early 2000s, there have been petitions submitted to the Queensland Parliament lobbying for the introduction of DST or for another referendum. In 2010, a community consultation process found that 64% of respondents were in favour of a trial and 63% supported holding a referendum. However, the Queensland Government ultimately decided not to support the Bill, as regional Queenslanders were overwhelmingly opposed to DST. The Bill was defeated in Parliament in 2011.
Western Australia has also had a notable debate around DST, with the issue being put to a referendum four times (in 1975, 1984, 1992, and 2009), but all attempts were defeated. Western Australia was the only state in 2007-2008 to observe DST from the last Sunday in October to the last Sunday in March. Since 2009, it has remained on Standard time all year round.
The Northern Territory has consistently refrained from observing DST since it was first introduced during the World Wars.
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Queensland abandoned DST in 1972
Queensland abandoned daylight saving time (DST) in 1972, after a one-year trial from 31 October 1971 to 27 February 1972. Queensland had initially adopted DST in 1971, following Tasmania's reintroduction of DST in 1967 due to a drought. However, in 1972, Queensland decided to discontinue the practice of adjusting clocks forward by one hour during the summer months. This decision was influenced by the state's unique geographical considerations and a lack of widespread support among its residents.
The debate around DST in Queensland has been ongoing, with public opinion geographically divided. While some regions, like the metropolitan south-east, tend to favour DST, other areas, particularly the north and west regional districts, have consistently voted against it. This divide has resulted in Queensland not permanently adopting DST, unlike some other Australian states and territories.
Over the years, there have been multiple attempts to reintroduce DST in Queensland. In 1989, a second trial of DST was conducted, lasting three years until 1992. Despite this extended trial period, a referendum held in 1992 resulted in a defeat for DST, with 54.5% of voters rejecting the proposal. This referendum highlighted the persistent regional differences in opinion, with the 'no' vote strongest in the north and west, and the 'yes' vote predominant in the south-east.
In 2010, the Daylight Saving for South East Queensland Referendum Bill was introduced, calling for a referendum on the introduction of DST in the region under a dual-time zone arrangement. Once again, the proposal faced opposition, particularly from regional Queenslanders. The bill was ultimately defeated in the Queensland Parliament in 2011, reflecting the ongoing challenge of reconciling the divergent views within the state.
Queensland's decision to abandon DST in 1972 has had a lasting impact on the state's timekeeping practices. While other states and territories in Australia have continued to observe DST or conduct trials, Queensland has maintained its position, resulting in a varied landscape of time zones across the country during the summer months.
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Western Australia has voted 'no' to DST four times
In Australia, each state and territory decides whether or not to use Daylight Saving Time (DST). During World War I and World War II, all states and territories observed DST by federal law. However, Western Australia has voted against DST four times in referendums held in 1975, 1984, 1992, and 2009.
The 2009 referendum, which followed a three-year DST trial, saw the highest percentage of "no" votes out of all four referendums, with 54.57% of voters rejecting DST. This was an increase from the 54.5% "no" vote in the 1992 referendum, which also followed a three-year trial. The 2009 referendum question asked voters if they supported advancing the local time by one hour from the last Sunday in October 2009 until the last Sunday in March 2010 and in subsequent years.
Those who voted "no" in the 2009 referendum felt that DST was not relevant to the northern parts of Western Australia and that it was not appropriate for their latitude. Some also believed that DST would steal the best hours for beach use or exercise in the summer mornings, and that it would increase electricity consumption, negatively impacting the environment.
As a result of the repeated rejections of DST in Western Australia, the then-Premier Colin Barnett stated that the DST issue should not be considered for at least another 20 years. Despite this, the Daylight Saving Party was established in 2016 by brothers Brett and Wilson Tucker, who argued that a generational shift in Western Australia would lead to a successful fifth referendum. However, the party failed to win any seats in the 2017 state election, receiving only 0.68% of the vote.
Currently, DST is observed in the Australian states of New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, and Victoria, as well as the Australian Capital Territory, Jervis Bay Territory, and Norfolk Island. Western Australia, Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Australia's other external territories do not observe DST.
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DST was first used in Australia during World War I
Daylight Saving Time (DST) was first used in Australia during World War I, in 1916. It was implemented under the Daylight Saving Act 1916, modelled after the first instance of DST in the world in Port Arthur, Canada, in 1908. DST in Australia was intended as a wartime fuel-saving measure, with the goal of reducing energy usage by setting the clock forward by one hour during the summer months and backward by one hour in the cooler months.
During World War I, all Australian states and territories adopted DST by federal law, under the defence power in section 51 of the constitution. However, DST did not prove popular in Australia, and it was repealed in 1917. Newspapers at the time reported on the widespread derision the change attracted, with one stating:
> "Nothing in the long record of Parliamentary delinquency has excited more derision … than this ill-starred attempt to divert Nature from her natural course."
DST was re-introduced in Australia during World War II, from 1942 to 1944, and it was used nationwide. After the war, in 1967, Tasmania became the first state since World War I to adopt DST permanently due to a drought. The following year, in 1968, New South Wales (NSW), South Australia, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) also adopted DST, while Western Australia, Queensland, and the Northern Territory did not. Queensland did briefly observe DST from 1971 to 1972 but then abandoned it.
Today, DST is observed in NSW, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, the ACT, Jervis Bay Territory, and Norfolk Island. Western Australia, Queensland, Northern Territory, and Australia's other external territories do not observe DST. The inconsistent adoption of DST across Australia creates five time zones during the summer months, instead of the usual three.
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Frequently asked questions
No. Queensland, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory do not observe daylight savings time.
New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory observe daylight savings time.
Each state and territory can decide whether or not to use daylight savings time. Queensland and Western Australia have had particularly involved debates over daylight savings time, with referendums in both states returning 'no' votes.
