Daylight Saving Time and Politics in Queensland

The last time Queensland experienced Daylight Saving Time (DST), was for three summers from 1989/90 to 1991/92. This trial, was followed by the one and only Queensland Referendum on Daylight Saving, which was held in February 1992. This Referendum gauged support for State-wide Daylight Saving in Queensland; and was defeated 54.5% to 45.5%. Successive State Governments have abided by this result and not adopted Daylight Saving Time in any form and remained with the status quo.

Population Growth Since the Referendum

It has been 18 years since the 1992 Referendum, and more than 1.1 million voters have been added to the Queensland electoral roll, and are eligible to have a say on the issue of Daylight Saving; just under 950,000 of these additional registered voters, live in the South East region. These people were either not in Queensland or were too young to vote on this issue. That is a large number of Queensland voters who have never had their say on Daylight Saving within Queensland.

The Queensland Government commissioned Nielsen review

In 2007, the Queensland Government commissioned the Nielsen Company to undertake research into the attitudes of Queenslanders towards daylight saving. The main reason for this review was to see if there had been any substantial change in community attitudes in Queensland, since the 1992 referendum; and to enable the Government to consider if further action was required on the issue.

The findings of the Nielsen review showed that the attitudes of Queenslanders had indeed changed. State-wide opposition to daylight saving had decreased to only 34%, compared to the 54.5% who voted 'No' in the 1992 referendum.

Even though community attitudes have changed, unfortunately no further action was taken and there is still no Daylight Saving, in any form, in Queensland!

The findings of Nielsen review also indicated that 69% of South East Queensland respondents support the introduction of Daylight Saving, while 59% of those outside this region are against its introduction.

Increasing support for Daylight Saving, but geographically divided

Over the last few years, there have been a number of other survey results issued, illustrating similar trends to the Nielsen review. Since the 1992 Referendum, there has been an overwhelming increase in support of Daylight Saving, indicating that the majority of Queenslanders are in favour of its introduction. This support is geographically divided, with the majority of residents in South East Queensland being supportive of Daylight Saving, while the majority of Queenslanders residing outside this region, oppose its introduction.

The Daylight Saving issue still sits in the 'Too Hard Basket'

Given all of the abovementioned information, it is easy to understand why the issue of Daylight Saving within Queensland needs to be revisited, and that the most logical solution to this issue, is to introduce a dual time zone. A dual time zone would assist businesses in the South East region, and would also satisfy the majority of all of Queensland's residents, not just the minority, as is currently the case.

The issue of Daylight Saving within Queensland has been sitting in the 'Too Hard Basket' for so long, that the major parties have become too comfortable and complacent in remaining with the status quo, continuing to ignore the issue, and even claiming it isn't an issue. However, Daylight Saving has become an increasingly more significant issue facing Queensland. To deny this, is to deny the needs of business, and deny the people of South East Queensland greater lifestyle opportunities.

The dual time zone proposed by the Daylight Saving for South East Queensland Party, is a real alternative that reflects the geographic reality and diversity of the State. This proposal is a compromise that respects the needs of regional and rural Queenslanders, while also giving fair consideration to the view of the majority of residents in South East Queensland. It is a lifestyle and business choice, and one that the majority of South East Queenslanders would like to have.

Why is the geographic issue of Daylight saving within Queensland, still sitting in the 'Too Hard Basket', when it can be resolved with a geographic solution?