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AUSTRALIAN DATES AND TIME
Daylight Savings
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Public Holiday Calendars ACT QLD NSW VIC TAS NT SA WA More Australian Time and Dates • Australian School Term Dates • Special Observances in Australia • Australian Time Zones Australian Daylight Saving • Australian Daylight Savings Dates • History of Australian Daylight Saving Time • Aussie Daylight Saving Dates Since 1917 • World Daylight Savings • Help for Americans • Daylight Saving or Daylight Savings? |
How did Daylight Saving Time get started in Australia?
Daylight Saving Time (DST) had its beginning in Australia during World War I. The Commonwealth used its wartime powers to require all Australian states and territories to put into place DST. 1917 was officially the
first year DST was used across the country. It was in force between 1 January and 25 March (late summer in Australia). It was discontinued after the war, but World War II saw its return for three consecutive summers. It began with a late summer start on 1 January 1942 followed by a full summer (September - March) later that year.
Tasmania may be our smallest state, but they had great influence on why we have DST in Australia today. The Tasmanian state government implemented Daylight Savings in the summer of 1967 to save power which saved water. A severe drought in the state made it imperative that DST be used to help the situation. As it turned out, they liked having DST in Tasmania so much so that they have continued it ever since. Because it was such a success, the Tasmanian state government pushed to get DST used Australia-wide.
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By 1971 legislation was passed by all states, except the Northern Territory and Western Australia, to run a trial period. Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia made it permanent in 1972. Currently Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia do not have Daylight Savings. Often confusing dates and changes Although efforts have been made to unify DST dates across Australia, the Federal Government has kept it the responsibility of individual state and territory governments to decide when and if Daylight Savings will be implemented locally. As a result, DST has varied at times depending on local issues. |
Less sleep? You want the same |
For example New South Wales extended DST in 1981-2 because of power shortages. During the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games special Daylight Savings Times were observed by some, but not all. This lack of uniformity is blamed for the serious problems in scheduling and reduced hours available to work with others across state lines. Daylight Saving Time also means Australia has 5 time zones when in effect.
Cows giving less milk may be a joke to some, but the debate over DST goes on.
Back to dates of Australian Daylight Savings
