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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-02-03 Daily Xml
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STANDARD TIME BILL

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 29 October 2008. Page 702.)

Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (17:34): I rise in support of this piece of legislation to change the time in South Australia from Greenwich Mean Time to Coordinated Universal Time. This bill—we can use all the time clichés—has taken a bit of time to get here, it is overdue and it will not take too much time at all to deal with it. The change from Greenwich Mean Time to Coordinated Universal Time is a necessary thing. The history of time is something that I have learnt a fair bit about in researching some of the background of this bill, but to say that it is time to move on is an understatement.

One of my colleagues said in jest to me that if we move to atomic time, which is really the basis of Coordinated Universal Time, using an atomic clock to accurately measure time, if we waste time will we be creating nuclear waste? I said no. And, because it is atomic time will time actually start to fly? I said no, it always seems to go quite quickly for politicians.

The Hon. R.J. McEwen: Can we actually call time out?

Dr McFETRIDGE: Sometimes we would like to have a time out, minister, but I think if I take any more time on this then the minister might think that my time is well and truly up in this place. We do support this bill. I encourage members to have a look at the history of the way time has been measured, because it is an interesting exercise. It will not take a lot of time. With this short contribution, I offer my support to the legislation and look forward to a speedy passage through this house.

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (17:36): I would thank the opposition and in particular Duncan for his contribution and, indeed, his support and his party's support of this most important bill, and I am grateful for the indication of their support. As has been mentioned, it will bring South Australia in line with all other Australian states. It has been a long time coming.

I too, like the honourable member for Morphett, have learned more about the passage of time and how it is calculated since being responsible for this important piece of legislation. In addition, the public and businesses that rely upon the precise measurement of time will benefit from the certainty in the use of uniform terminology in standard time legislation throughout Australia. It is an important piece of legislation.

I would conclude by thanking and acknowledging the staff from SafeWork SA for their work in the preparation of this bill and, indeed, parliamentary counsel for their assistance in drafting this bill.

Bill read a second time.

Third Reading

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (17:38): I move:

That this bill be now read a third time.

Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (17:38): Mr Speaker, I just wanted to know: if I spoke for a second time in the third reading, is that double time?

Bill read a third time and passed.


At 17:39 the house adjourned until Wednesday 4 February 2009 at 11:00.

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