South Australia’s
time zone
Frequently asked questions
Community engagement on South Australia’s time zone
1. What time zone are we currently on?
South Australia’s time zone is 9.5 hours ahead of Coordinated
Universal Time (UTC + 9.5) – the same as the Northern Territory.
South Australia is one of only seven places in the world
with a half-hour reference point against UTC.
Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and the
Australian Capital Territory all have a time zone of UTC + 10.
Western Australia has a time zone of UTC + 8.
2. What are the options open for discussion
for changing South Australia’s time zone?
The main options in comments and submissions received
to date in the community engagement process are:
• align with the eastern states (UTC + 10)
• move closer to Western Australian time (for example, UTC + 9)
• retain the current time zone (UTC + 9.5).
3. What are some of the impacts if we align
our time zone with the eastern states?
Some argue that this could potentially boost our business
opportunities and improve public administration and our
scheduling of major events and sporting fixtures. It could
help avoid confusion about the timing of meetings and
tele-conferences across state borders. If airline schedules
were adjusted as well, it could make it easier for South
Australian business people travelling to the eastern states
for business meetings, and for tourists and other visitors to
SA. There would be no need to delay television and radio
broadcasts of live events by half an hour in SA, enabling
South Australians to take part in real-time discussions.
www.yoursay.sa.gov.au/timezone
A change to UCT + 10 would mean that the sun would
rise and set half an hour later, by the clock, than at present.
Some people argue that this could have significant negative
impacts on the farming sector and social wellbeing,
including the safety of children waiting at bus stops in the
dark, particularly on the West Coast where sunrise times
are already later than in eastern parts of the state. But
others speak about the benefits of having an additional 30
minutes of sunlight at the end of the day all year round,
i.e. for exercise, eating out and heading for the beach.
4. What are some of the impacts
for changing our time zone to be
closer to Western Australia?
A change to UCT + 9 would align South Australia
more closely to the same time zone as major trading
partners in Asia, such as Japan and Korea (both UCT
+ 9) and China, Singapore and Malaysia (UCT + 8).
A change to UCT + 9 would mean that the sun would rise
and set half an hour earlier, by the clock, than at present.
However it may make it less convenient for South Australian
business people travelling to eastern states for meetings,
in some cases requiring travel the night before, rather than
early in the morning. South Australia adopting UCT + 9
would also create one more separate time zone across the
country (no other state or territory currently uses UCT + 9).
South Australia’s
time zone
Frequently asked questions
5. What will the engagement
process involve?
The most important aspect of a consultative process of
this nature - one that impacts all South Australians - is that
we provide every opportunity for people to consider all
the options and have their say. It's of equal importance
that we do all we can to fully inform people about the
potential ramifications of change, positive and negative.
A series of engagement forums will be held in the coming
months in Adelaide and various regional centres.
The first phase of consultation will continue until Friday 10
April 2015, shortly after which a report will be produced
outlining the Government’s preferred option and providing
for a further two-month period of consultation.
7. How can I have my say?
An online discussion forum has been established on the
YourSAy website, www.yoursay.sa.gov.au/timezone,
for live interactive discussion.
Written submissions may be sent to:
Time Zone, Department of State Development,
GPO Box 320, SA Adelaide 5001.
Electronic submissions to: [email protected]
8. When is the closing date
for submissions?
If the government decides to proceed with a
change to the time zone, this would require
legislation to be amended in Parliament.
The first phase of consultation will continue until
Friday 10 April 2015, shortly after which a report will be
produced outlining the Government’s preferred option and
providing for a further two-month period of consultation.
6. What is the scope of the engagement?
9. How can I find out more information?
The government is keen to ensure that all South Australians
have the opportunity to participate in the discussion around
the time zone. We will be seeking input not only about
what the impacts might be from a potential time zone
change, but also about ways that any negative impacts could
be managed (for example, by allowing some schools to
change the starting and finishing times of the school day).
To stay informed please register online at YourSAy
www.yoursay.sa.gov.au/timezone or click here.
www.yoursay.sa.gov.au/timezone
In the meantime please email your questions to:
[email protected] and sign up to the discussion
forum on www.yoursay.sa.gov.au/timezone