Daylight saving operated nationally during World War I from January 1, 1917 to March 25, 1917 and during World War II for three summers, beginning on January 1, 1942.

Daylight saving was introduced again in this State on October 31, 1971 after the Standard Time Act 1971 was passed by the NSW Parliament.

A referendum held on May 1, 1976 submitted a proposal that daylight saving be adopted on a permanent basis. The ballot paper stated:

At present there is a period commonly called “daylight saving” by which time is advanced by one hour for the period commencing on the last Sunday in October in each year and ending on the first Sunday in March in the following year.

Electors were then asked to answer YES or NO to the question:

Are you in favour of daylight saving? 1,882,770 electors were in favour; 868,900 were against and 35,507 votes were informal. This was a ratio of 13:6 in favour.

The regulation of time is a State Government responsibility and 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 southeastern states and the ACT was passed by the NSW Parliament on October 23, 2007.

Daylight saving for future summers in NSW begins at 2am, Eastern Standard Time, on the first Sunday in October and ends at 3am Eastern Daylight Saving Time on the first Sunday in April. So don’t forget to turn the clocks back one hour this Sunday.