Territory of Christmas Island
Standard Time and Daylight Saving Time Ordinance 1980
Ordinance No. 8 of 1980 as amended
made under the
Christmas Island Act 1958
This compilation was prepared on 17 January 2002
taking into account amendments up to Ordinance No. 10 of 1981
Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing,
Attorney-General’s Department, Canberra
Contents
1 Short title [see Note 1]
2 Interpretation
3 Legal time during period other than daylight saving period
4 Legal time during daylight saving period
5 Construction of instruments etc
Notes
An Ordinance relating to standard time and daylight saving time
1 Short title [see Note 1]
This Ordinance may be cited as the Standard Time and Daylight Saving Time Ordinance 1980.
2 Interpretation
In this Ordinance, unless the contrary intention appears:
daylight saving period means a period fixed by the Minister by notice published in the Gazette.
daylight saving time means the time declared by section 4 of this Ordinance to be legal time throughout the Territory during a daylight saving period.
prescribed meridian means the meridian of longitude 105˚ east of Greenwich, England.
standard time means the time declared by section 3 of this Ordinance to be legal time throughout the Territory during any period other than a daylight saving period.
3 Legal time during period other than daylight saving period
The mean time of the prescribed meridian is declared to be legal time throughout the Territory during any period other than a daylight saving period.
4 Legal time during daylight saving period
The time that is one hour in advance of the mean time of the prescribed meridian is declared to be legal time throughout the Territory during a daylight saving period.
5 Construction of instruments etc
Where:
(a) an expression of time occurs in an Ordinance, regulation, by-law, rule, notice or order, or in a contract or agreement (whether made orally or in writing) or in a deed or other instrument; or
(b) the doing or refraining from doing anything at, before or after a certain time has an effect in law,
that time shall, unless it is otherwise specifically stated, be determined:
(c) with respect to a daylight saving period — by reference to daylight saving time; and
(d) with respect to any other period — by reference to standard time.
Notes to the Standard Time and Daylight Saving Time Ordinance 1980
Note 1
The Standard Time and Daylight Saving Time Ordinance 1980 (in force under the Christmas Island Act 1958) as shown in this compilation comprises Ordinance No 8. of 1980 amended as indicated in the Tables below.
Table of Ordinances
Year and
number | Date of notification
in Gazette | Date of
commencement | Application, saving or
transitional provisions |
No. 8, 1980 | 23 Dec 1980 | 23 Dec 1980 | |
No. 10, 1981 | 21 Oct 1981 | 21 Oct 1981 | — |
Table of Amendments
ad. = added or inserted am. = amended rep. = repealed rs. = repealed and substituted |
Provision affected | How affected |
S. 2................. | am. No. 10, 1981 |
Overview
The Standard Time and Daylight Saving Time Ordinance 1980 is an instrument enacted under the Christmas Island Act 1958 to address the need for a consistent and standardised time system on Christmas Island. This legislative instrument establishes the legal time framework for the Territory, distinguishing between standard time and daylight saving time. The purpose of this legislation is to provide a clear and unambiguous reference for determining time in various legal and administrative contexts on the island. The enacting body responsible for this Ordinance is the Christmas Island administration, and the policy objective is to ensure that timekeeping is uniform and predictable, thereby facilitating legal, commercial, and daily activities on the island.
The Ordinance specifies that the mean time of the prescribed meridian, which is the meridian of longitude 105° east of Greenwich, England, serves as the standard time during periods outside of daylight saving time. Conversely, during the daylight saving period, the legal time is set to one hour ahead of the mean time of the prescribed meridian. Furthermore, the Ordinance mandates that unless otherwise specified, any reference to time in legal instruments, contracts, or agreements should be interpreted according to these defined standards of timekeeping. This comprehensive approach ensures that there is no ambiguity regarding the interpretation of time-related provisions in legal and administrative contexts.
Scope and Application
The Standard Time and Daylight Saving Time Ordinance 1980 applies exclusively to the Territory of Christmas Island, establishing the legal framework for timekeeping within the territory. This ordinance, which operates under the authority of the Christmas Island Act 1958, governs the standard and daylight saving times observed throughout the territory. It delineates that during periods outside of daylight saving, the mean time of the meridian of longitude 105˚ east of Greenwich, England, is considered the legal time. Conversely, during specified daylight saving periods, the time one hour in advance of this mean time is legally recognised. The ordinance also mandates that any expressions of time in instruments, contracts, or legal documents, unless otherwise specified, should refer to daylight saving time during daylight saving periods and to standard time otherwise. This comprehensive legal framework ensures consistency in timekeeping across all activities and transactions within the territory.
Key Provisions
The Standard Time and Daylight Saving Time Ordinance 1980 (sections 2-5) sets out the legal time standards for the Territory of Christmas Island. It declares that the mean time of the meridian of longitude 105° east of Greenwich, England, is the legal time during periods outside of daylight saving time (section 3). Conversely, during daylight saving periods, the legal time is one hour in advance of this mean time (section 4). The Ordinance also specifies how times should be interpreted in legal instruments, contracts, and agreements (section 5). Unless otherwise specified, times should be understood according to daylight saving time during daylight saving periods and standard time during other periods.
Entities and individuals within the Territory of Christmas Island must adhere to the declared legal times as set out in this Ordinance. Any legal documents, contracts, or agreements must reference the correct time standard unless explicitly stated otherwise. This includes official notices, orders, and any other legal instruments issued within the Territory. The Ordinance aims to ensure consistency in timekeeping across all legal and administrative activities, which is crucial for maintaining accurate records and compliance with legal requirements.
The Ordinance does not explicitly list offences or penalties for non-compliance with the declared legal times. However, the importance of adhering to the specified times is underscored by its application in legal contexts. Failure to correctly reference the appropriate time standard in legal documents or agreements could lead to ambiguities or disputes, potentially resulting in legal consequences. Ensuring compliance with the Ordinance is therefore vital for avoiding such issues.
Given that the Ordinance does not specify particular penalties for breaches, the primary consequence of non-compliance would likely be the need to rectify any errors in legal documentation or agreements. This might involve amendments to contracts, reissuing notices, or other corrective measures to align with the correct legal times. The lack of explicit penalties does not diminish the importance of adhering to the Ordinance's provisions to maintain the integrity of legal and administrative processes in the Territory.