As you are aware, Norfolk Island residents and businesses will shortly begin observing and enjoying Daylight Saving Time (DST) on Norfolk Island.
Each year, from the first Sunday in October, clocks on Norfolk Island will need to be moved forward one hour and then back one hour on the first Sunday in April. In 2019, DST will begin at 2am on Sunday 6 October and end at 2am on Sunday 5 April 2020.
It will be the first time DST is observed on Norfolk Island, after the community decided to enable more hours of daylight in the evening for recreation, health and wellbeing, as well as more time for tourist activities.
In 2017, the Norfolk Island Regional Council put a call out for the community's perspective on the introduction of DST and 85 per cent of respondents strongly supported a change to Norfolk Island time through the warmer months.
Observing DST will also ensure that Norfolk Island remains one hour ahead of New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory, and one hour behind New Zealand, all year round.
This will provide the benefit of consistency for business and tourism with the mainland and New Zealand.
To ensure the successful implementation of DST, my office and the Department have been working with the Norfolk Island Regional Council, as well as stakeholders on and off Island, to ensure the community and businesses are well prepared for the change.
We have also prepared a handy fact sheet which is available here: www.regional.gov.au/territories/norfolk_island/governance/daylight-savings.aspx
Eric Hutchinson
August 2019