Definitions of time and how time is regulated

Local Standard Time

The globe is divided into 'Standard Time' zones. Local Standard Time is the time specified for each zone. This is usually stated in terms of hours ahead or behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

For more information about time zones in other Australian states and territories, visit time zones and daylight saving on the Australian Government website.

Daylight saving time

Daylight saving or summer time is commonly expressed as AEDT (Australian Eastern Daylight Time).

In periods of daylight saving an hour is added to the Local Standard Time (except for on Lord Howe Island where 30 minutes is added).

Where daylight saving is observed 

NSW (except Broken Hill and Lord Howe Island), the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and Tasmania move from AEST to Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT), and clocks are advanced to UTC +11.

Lord Howe Island moves from LHST to Lord Howe Daylight Time (LHDT), and clocks are advanced to UTC +11.

South Australia and the NSW town of Broken Hill move from ACST to Australian Central Daylight Time (ACDT), and clocks are advanced to UTC +10.5.

Daylight saving is not observed in Queensland, the Northern Territory or Western Australia.

For more information about time zones and daylight saving in other Australian states and territories, visit time zones and daylight saving on the Australian Government website.

Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)

UTC replaced Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) as the international time standard and is based on an atomic clock (International Atomic Time, or TAI).

How time is regulated in NSW  

The regulation of time is a State Government responsibility. In NSW the Standard Time Act 1987 governs standard time and daylight saving. Changes to the period of daylight saving may be made by regulation.

Legislation to harmonise daylight saving in NSW with the south-astern states and the Australian Capital Territory was passed by the NSW Parliament on 23 October 2007.