What is Daylight Saving Time (DST)?

Daylight Saving Time (DST) is the practice of setting clocks forward by one hour during the warmer months to extend evening daylight. This means that clocks are typically set forward one hour in the spring (“spring forward”) and set back one hour in the Autumn/fall (“fall back”).

Terms used for time zones in Australia are:

• Australian Western Standard Time (AWST) - UTC+8
• Australian Central Western Standard Time (ACWST) - UTC+8:45
• Australian Central Standard Time (ACST) - UTC+9:30
• Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) - UTC+10
• Australian Central Daylight Time (ACDT) - UTC+10:30 (during DST)
• Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) - UTC+11 (during DST)

When does DST begin and end?

DST ends at 2am (3am DST) on the first Sunday in April when clocks are put back one hour.

DST begins at 2am on the first Sunday in October when clocks are put forward one hour.

You can check this year’s DST at the below website: https://www.timeanddate.com/time/change/australia

Where in Australia does DST apply?

Australia has 6 different time zones. DST is observed in the following Australian states and territories: New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and Australian Capital Territory (ACT).

Please note that Broken Hill, New South Wales, DST is observed differently compared to the rest of New South Wales. Broken Hill follows the same time zone as South Australia, which is Australian Central Daylight Time (ACDT) during DST.

Here’s how it works:

• During DST: Broken Hill is on ACDT, which is UTC+10:30.
• Outside DST: Broken Hill follows Australian Central Standard Time (ACST), which is UTC+9:30.

Recording time when changing time zones for DST

Written Work Diaries: (see also Work Diary)

• Drivers travelling outside their normal time zone must ensure that they count and record time, including night rests, according to the time zone of their base (the place from which you normally work, or garage address of the vehicle).
• You need to ensure that you are counting the correct number of hours. Both work and rest time must be counted in 15-minute blocks relative to the time zone of your base. For more information, see counting time.
• Make a note on the page in your Work Diary where the time changes for daylight saving. Authorised Officers are aware of daylight-saving changes. If you are pulled over for a compliance check and have made a note, you have demonstrated consideration of daylight savings.

Example 1: If you are based in New South Wales and you drive into Queensland during DST, record your work and rest hours in New South Wales time.

• Susie undertakes a round trip under standard hours from Armidale, New South Wales to Toowoomba, Queensland.
• New South Wales is currently on DST. She leaves her base at Armidale at 4.15pm and drives for 5hours to Toowoomba where she begins a rest break.
• Because of DST, the local time in Queensland is 8.15pm when Susie arrives, however the time in New South Wales is 9.15pm.
• Susie must continue to count and record time according to the time zone of her base in Armidale, which means Susie must record the change from work to rest at 9.15pm in her Work Diary in accordance with her base (New South Wales time zone).

Example 2: If you are based in Queensland and you drive into New South Wales during DST, record your work and rest hours in Queensland time.

• John is working under BFM hours. He leaves his home base of Ipswich, Queensland at 1pm and drives for 6 hours across the border to Armidale, New South Wales where he takes his rest break.
• John must record his work start time as 1pm, and 6 work hours to 7pm, where he will record a 30 minute rest. In New South Wales, it is DST, so the clocks will show 8pm. However, John must record the correct number of hours according to his base time in Queensland.
• John must record his rest from 7pm-7:30pm (Queensland time) in his Work Diary, even though the New South Wales DST time is 8pm-8:30pm.
• John must also make a note in his Work Dairy that it is DST in New South Wales at this time. (see visual example below)
• Once John recommences driving, he must continue to record time in his Work Diary from the base time in Queensland.
• When John arrives at his destination and finishes work time at 11pm (New South Wales time), John must record his rest time as starting at 10pm (Queensland time) – consistently counting the correct number of hours according to his base (Queensland time).

Example 3: Two up drivers on standard time driving from Queensland to New South Wales.

• Rohan and Dan are two up drivers working under standard hours. They are completing a round trip from Maroochydore, Queensland to North Sydney New South Wales during DST in New South Wales. Their base time is Queensland time.
• Rohan begins his work time at 4am and records 5 hours work time to 9am (base time) where he takes a 2-hour rest break in the sleeper berth.
• Dan rests from 4am in the sleeper berth and commences driving from 9:15am base (Queensland time) and drives 5.25 hours. He records his next rest at 2:30pm base (Queensland time).
• Rohan sits in the passenger seat from 11am base time, and begins driving at 2:30pm to drive the final 30mins to North Sydney, where the time is 4pm (New South Wales time)
• Rohan will record 4 hours work time as 11am (base time) to 3pm (base time).

Example 4: Driver leaves Queensland and enters New South Wales overnight on day of DST changeover.

• Suraj is driving under standard hours. He leaves Roma in Queensland at 9:30pm on the first Saturday in October and drives for 5 hours, stopping in Moree, New South Wales for a 30-minute rest break at 2:30am (Queensland time).
• DST started at 2am on Sunday morning in New South Wales, causing the clocks to move forward 1 hour. 2am in New South Wales is now 3am.
• Suraj must continue to count time relative to his base (Queensland time) and record his rest break of 30mins from 2:30am-3am, making a note in his Work Diary that he is aware it is DST changeover day.
• Suraj continues to drive from Moree, New South Wales to his destination in Dubbo, New South Wales, recording 4 hours and 30 mins work time before starting continuous rest time.
• He must continue to record time according to his base (Queensland time) and ensure that the correct number of work/rest hours are recorded.
• After completing his rest break, Suraj will continue to count his work and rest time according to his base (Queensland time) as he returns to Roma, ensuring compliance with standard hours of a solo driver.

For more information, please see Work and rest requirements.

Tip: If you’re driving near the Queensland/New South Wales border, your smartphone may show the wrong time zone. If you can, adjust your phone’s settings to avoid automatic time zone changes to avoid confusion.

Electronic Work Diaries

• If you are using an Electronic Work Diary (EWD), it will automatically adjust according to your base time entered.
• Record keepers must check that any EWD records and reports are showing correct home base time zone
• It is advisable to make a note in your comments section to identify the time change for DST.

For more information, please see Electronic Work Diary.

Important information on rest time and night rests in changing time zones

• Drivers travelling outside their normal time zone should ensure that they schedule their night rests according to the time zone of their base.
• BFM hours solo drivers must calculate ‘long and night hours’ according to the time zone of their base.