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# Daylight saving starts Sunday as clocks go forward one hour
- URL: https://www.bushletter.com/daylight-saving-starts-sunday-as-clocks-go-forward-one-hour/
- Published: 2026-10-01T06:30:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-01T06:29:59.000Z
- Description: Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory stay on standard time, leaving Brisbane an hour behind Sydney until clocks return in April.
- Author: Editor
- Tags: News, Australia

![Caleb Reed](https://res.cloudinary.com/dz77sb7j1/image/upload/v1774262572/bushletter/authors/caleb-reed.png)

By **Caleb Reed** · 2026-09-30

TLDR

Five states and territories push clocks forward one hour at 2am Sunday, losing an hour of sleep but gaining an evening of extra daylight. Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory stay on standard time, splitting the east coast by one hour until April.

Clocks in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory go forward one hour at 2am on Sunday 4 October 2026, moving to 3am.[\[1\]](https://www.nsw.gov.au/about-nsw/daylight-saving?ref=bushletter.com) Residents lose one hour of sleep when clocks move forward by one hour and gain an extra hour of evening daylight through summer.

Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory do not observe daylight saving.[\[1\]](https://www.nsw.gov.au/about-nsw/daylight-saving?ref=bushletter.com) Brisbane sits one hour behind Sydney from Sunday until clocks return in April.

## What updates automatically and what does not

Most smartphones and internet-connected devices adjust without any action from the user.[\[1\]](https://www.nsw.gov.au/about-nsw/daylight-saving?ref=bushletter.com) Analogue clocks, microwave ovens, car dashboards and older alarm clocks require a manual reset.

## Pay for overnight workers

An employee who works an overnight shift and is paid by the clock will work one hour less but still get payment for the full shift, according to the Fair Work Ombudsman.[\[3\]](https://www.fairwork.gov.au/pay-and-wages/daylight-saving-time?ref=bushletter.com) The same rule applies unless an enterprise agreement or contract states otherwise.

## Grand Final timing

The NRL Grand Final kicks off at 7:30pm AEDT on Sunday, with gates opening at 1:00pm AEDT and the NRLW Grand Final starting at 4:00pm AEDT.[\[2\]](https://www.nrl.com/news/2026/09/27/grand-final-week-2026-everything-you-need-to-know/?ref=bushletter.com) Queensland viewers, remaining on standard time, see the main game at 6:30pm local time.

Daylight saving ends at 3am on Sunday 4 April 2027, when clocks go back one hour to 2am.[\[1\]](https://www.nsw.gov.au/about-nsw/daylight-saving?ref=bushletter.com)

KEY TAKEAWAYS

01Clocks in NSW, Victoria, the ACT, Tasmania and South Australia jump from 2am to 3am on Sunday.

02Queensland, WA and the NT do not change, creating a one-hour east coast split until 4 April 2027.

03The NRL Grand Final kicks off at 7:30pm AEDT on Sunday, which is 6:30pm in Queensland.

04Overnight shift workers paid by the clock will work one hour less but receive pay for the full shift.

05Daylight saving ends at 3am on Sunday 4 April 2027, when clocks return to 2am.

SOURCES & CITATIONS

1. [Daylight saving in NSW](https://www.nsw.gov.au/about-nsw/daylight-saving?ref=bushletter.com)
2. [NRL Grand Final week 2026 guide](https://www.nrl.com/news/2026/09/27/grand-final-week-2026-everything-you-need-to-know/?ref=bushletter.com)
3. [Daylight saving time and pay](https://www.fairwork.gov.au/pay-and-wages/daylight-saving-time?ref=bushletter.com)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Which states observe daylight saving in 2026?

New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory all move clocks forward. Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory do not change.

When do clocks go forward in 2026?

At 2am on Sunday 4 October 2026, clocks move forward one hour to 3am in the states and territories that observe daylight saving.

When does daylight saving end in 2027?

Clocks go back one hour at 3am on Sunday 4 April 2027, returning to 2am.

Do I need to manually update my phone?

Most smartphones update automatically. Analogue clocks, car dashboards, ovens and older alarm clocks need to be set forward one hour manually.

![Caleb Reed](https://res.cloudinary.com/dz77sb7j1/image/upload/v1774262572/bushletter/authors/caleb-reed.png)

[Caleb Reed](https://bushletter.com/author/caleb-reed/?ref=bushletter.com)

Caleb Reed covers breaking news and sport. He works to the rhythm of a story as it unfolds, and he is happiest when the facts arrive faster than anyone can spin them.