Standard Time Amendment
(Co-ordinated Universal Time) Bill 2005

This explanatory note relates to this Bill as introduced into Parliament.

Overview of Bill

The Standard Time Act 1987 (the Principal Act) currently sets out the standard time
in New South Wales by reference to the mean time of a designated meridian of
longitude east of Greenwich in England. This time scale is known as Greenwich
Mean Time (GMT). The object of this Bill is to amend the Principal Act to change
standard time in New South Wales from GMT to Co-ordinated Universal Time
(described generally as UTC). In November 2004, the Standing Committee of
Attorneys-General endorsed the change from GMT to UTC.

The Bill sets, in accordance with existing arrangements, standard time in NSW at 10
hours in advance of UTC (except for Broken Hill, which is set at 9 hours and 30
minutes in advance of UTC, and for Lord Howe Island, which is set at 10 hours and
30 minutes in advance of UTC). The Bill does not make any changes to daylight
saving (or summer time) arrangements.

GMT is a solar time scale based on the rotation of the Earth whereas UTC is a time
scale maintained by a network of more than 200 atomic clocks around the world. As
a result of the irregularities in the Earth’s rotation, UTC is the more consistent and
accurate time scale.

The use of UTC was endorsed in 1975 by the 15th General Conference on Weights
and Measures (CGPM). The Metre Convention (a diplomatic treaty), signed by
Australia in 1947, gives authority to CGPM to act in matters of world metrology.

The National Measurement Act 1960 of the Commonwealth was amended on 30 June
1997 to provide (in section 8AA) that UTC is the time scale that is to be maintained
(currently by the Chief Metrologist).

Outline of provisions

Clause 1 sets out the name (also called the short title) of the proposed Act.

Clause 2 provides for the commencement of the proposed Act on 1 September 2005.

Clause 3 is a formal provision that gives effect to the amendments to the Principal
Act set out in Schedule 1.

Schedule 1 Amendments
Schedule 1 [2], [3] and [4] substitute sections 3, 4 and 5, respectively, of the
Principal Act, having the effect described above in the overview.

Schedule 1 [1] inserts a definition of Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) into the
Principal Act.

Schedule 1 [5] contains a transitional provision.

Note: If this Bill is not modified, these Explanatory Notes would reflect the Bill as passed in the House. If the Bill has been amended by Committee, these Explanatory Notes may not necessarily reflect the Bill as passed.

 

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