Daylight saving time is divisive, and everyone has an opinion about it. Some people abhor losing an hour’s sleep because of it; others love getting an extra hour of light in the evening. But, no matter how you feel about it, you still need to pay attention to it – unless you want to miss when the clocks go forward and be late to work! Keep reading to find out when daylight saving begins and ends in Australia between 2023 and 2024.
When does daylight savings time 2023 start?
Daylight saving time in 2023 starts at 2am on the first Sunday in October (this falls on 1 October this year). This means that at that time, the clocks are put forward one hour to 3am. Sunrise and sunset will be about 1 hour later on 1 Oct 2023 than the day before. However, this only happens in certain states and territories in Australia: New South Wales, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania, and South Australia. The Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia and Christmas Island don’t observe daylight saving time, which means if you live in these areas, you don’t need to change your clocks.
When does daylight saving time end?
Daylight saving time ends on the first Sunday in April 2024, which will be the 7th of April, and ends at 2am (3am Daylight Saving Time). This means that at that time, the clocks are put back one hour to 2 am. This means sunrise and sunset will be about 1 hour earlier than the day before. Enjoy the extra rest!
When daylight saving ends, the time zones in Australia get a little simpler, dropping from five time zones down to three. All of Queensland, NSW, the ACT, Victoria and Tasmania will be on Australian Eastern Standard Time. This means that residents of the Northern Territory and South Australians will be half an hour behind on Australian Central Standard Time. Western Australia will be a further 30 minutes behind on Australian Western Standard Time., making them a whole 2 hours behind the eastern states and territories.
Why do we practice daylight saving time?
Daylight saving time, or DST, is a practice observed in many parts of the world. It began in the United States in 1918 as a wartime measure to increase productivity. DST involves setting the clocks forward by 1 hour during the spring and then adjusting them back by one hour during autumn. The idea behind this is to increase the amount of light we have in the evening, “saving” the daylight for waking hours. DST is supposedly beneficial for a few reasons, mainly lower energy consumption, as it reduces the need for artificial lighting. DST is also supposed to increase outdoor recreation, as people are likelier to go outside in the daylight. Increased activity thanks to the extra hour is also believed to, in turn, increase spending and be good for businesses.
What are the negative effects of DST, if any?
DST does have some negative aspects. Only some Australian states and close to 80 countries observe DST. Despite its widespread use, the practice has been met with some hotly contested pros and cons. In recent years, a growing number of scientists have been advising a ban on clock changes, citing the adverse effects it can have on people’s sleep schedules and circadian rhythms. The sudden shift in time can lead to a spike in health problems, road accidents, and mood changes in the days following due to increased fatigue.
Daylight saving also means a regular change in the time differences between states and countries. The twice-a-year shift can lead to added confusion, especially when it comes to international communication and business. With the world being more connected than ever, there’s an increasing number of calls to simplify things and ban DST.
How do you feel about daylight savings time? Let us know in the comments below if you’re an avid supporter and see the benefits or think your sleep should be left alone and the practice should be outlawed globally!
