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 Bligh pursues split State daylight savings 

Bligh pursues split State daylight savings

15 Apr, 2010 02:27 PM
Government MPs will spend a month consulting the community before a decision will be made on whether to trial daylight saving in South East Queensland.

Premier Anna Bligh called a caucus meeting this morning to discuss the government's position following a private members bill introduced to parliament yesterday.

It has been reported that Labor MPs had mixed views on the proposal going into the discussion.

But they agreed to seek opinions from their constituents and meet again before parliament resumes next month.

A trial could be held next summer before a referendum on the issue.

It's been 18 years since Queenslanders voted not to bring in daylight saving across the state.

After this morning's meeting, Ms Bligh told reporters it was time the matter was re-addressed.

"Queenslanders have never had a say on this and before the Labor party makes up its mind about how we will vote on Peter Wellington's bill, I want to hear what Queenslanders have to say about either a referendum or a trial before a referendum,'' she said.

"I've asked my caucus today to go back to their electorates, to be talking to their constituents, to doorknock, to have street stalls, and to come back when parliament next sits with a response from their constituents on the idea of having a say.''

A website will also be set up to allow people their say on daylight saving before parliament returns on May 18.

Independent MP Peter Wellington yesterday introduced his bill calling for a referendum at the next state election on daylight saving for South-East Queensland.

However, there are concerns the daylight saving frustrations felt between the Gold Coast and Tweed would only be transferred north if Queensland is divided into two time zones, with Gympie fearing it could become the "new Coolangatta".

The new referendum would ask Queenslanders if they support daylight saving in the South-East, with the rest of the state staying on standard time.

The local government areas covered in Mr Wellington's proposal, introduced to parliament yesterday, are Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, Logan, Scenic Rim, Redlands and Moreton Bay.

Ms Bligh, who has previously voted against daylight saving, said she was not keen on the idea but the issue continued to rear its head in the southeast.

"Frankly, I've always held the view that Queensland is geographically prevented from having daylight saving and I'm very reluctant to consider a split time zone,'' she said.

"But there's now a bill before the parliament and I want to know what Queenslanders think.''

''... It's time maybe for me to listen a bit harder.''

But AgForce says debate about daylight saving is nothing but a distraction for the Queensland government.

AgForce president John Cotter said Premier Bligh made a commitment to regional Queenslanders after the last state election to keep daylight saving off the agenda in this term of Government.

"I would hope she keeps to this commitment and instead focuses on developing the state and building new jobs and opportunities in regional Queensland," Mr Cotter said.

He said split time zones in Queensland may confuse and frustrate residents who could be set to live in one zone and work in another.

"There would be ten times more traffic across a split time zone in Queensland than across the Queensland-New South Wales border," Mr Cotter said.

Mr Cotter said making south east Queensland a separate time zone from the rest of the state would disrupt business operating across Queensland.

"For example, in the beef industry you may have a pre-slaughter supply chain managed in two different time zones. If businesses have regional and Brisbane offices, businesses would have to invest in staff working extra hours to compensate for the time difference."

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Date: Newest first | Oldest first
That's a good idea, it can be the first step in removing the cancerous growth in the south-east corner, from the rest of Queensland.
Posted by Qlander, 15/04/2010 5:24:05 PM, on Queensland Country Life
Splitting the state will just move the problem to another area of Queensland. Daylight saving is dreadful in the northern and western areas of Australia, including the states that already have it. Why do the capital cities have to selfishly force their wishes on the rest of the country. Couldn't those cities that wish to start earlier just work "summer time" hours or some such thing and just start work an hour earlier, instead of selfishly disrupting the lives of everyone in Australia. Time for Queensland to become 2 states. We would then start to make some progress with infrastrucure and necessary reform.
Posted by Concerned Northerner, 16/04/2010 5:03:13 AM, on Queensland Country Life
Really aren't there more important matters that the QLD State Govt need to attend to? If people in the cities need more daylight just start work early as we do in the bush and we still find there isn't enough daylight to get all the jobs done. This is "QLD" - we are sick and tired of hearing about this subject. Why doesn't the "independent" move a bill that really helps the State?
Posted by Shearer Bloke, 16/04/2010 6:39:41 AM, on Queensland Country Life
Methinks let's talk about daylight saving, then we won't have to talk about the payroll bungle in the health department. Cynical old me. If this was my company, my board of directors would ask for someone's scalp. We could probably do with a couple less on both sides, save some money and not have to listen to the continious spin from both sides... silly me.
Posted by Interested observer, 16/04/2010 8:06:34 AM, on Queensland Country Life
How nice of the premier to consult us mere subjects. We haven't been consulted on selling off taxpayers infrastructure, we weren't consulted on adding poisons to our water (fluoride) - is the premier worried about her popularity? After lying to the electorate before the election, the final consultation will show the government to the exit. The sooner that poll happens the better.
Posted by gordons, 16/04/2010 8:19:06 AM, on Queensland Country Life
Why not drive the wedge in harder and further, the feeling of us and them between the SE and the rest of the state. This time split is a stupid and divisive idea for the state. Either none or all of it. I would trade/deal across the proposed time line many times a day and it would occur on my busiest time of year. Hate to type this, but I agree with Bligh on this one - no daylight saving in the QLD (especially if it involved a time line). I spent the first 30 years of my life in NSW, so am well aware of the benefits of having it.
Posted by The orchardist, 16/04/2010 8:32:21 AM, on Queensland Country Life
"City folk just come out cryin." Simple. Start work a 7am and finish at 4pm. Simple. Change school start & finish times. Simple. If SE Qld want to be the same as NSW, simple. City folk cry that it is light at 4.00am in the summer. Hey! it will still be light at 4.00am (real time). You want to have more daylight for your R&R? In the morning or evening? Same amount of daylight. Psst. Still going to be daylight at 5.00am (NSW time.)
Posted by Gecko, 16/04/2010 8:53:30 AM, on Queensland Country Life
Not one second of daylight will be "saved" so its proper name should be "clock molestation". And it is pure distraction to give an appearance of consultation to a government that has always acted under fraudulent mandates. But having said that, bring it on. Because nothing will better highlight the extent of the divide between the real Queensland and the SE corner. And it will not be just 10 times more visible than the existing Tweed/Coolangatta divide. It will be a thousand times more so and insert itself into every aspect of governance. Nothing else will provide a constant reminder of the callous disregard of the metrocentric majority for the legitimate concerns of the regional minority. And that will become the constant reminder of why Regional Queensland needs it own State(s) within the commonwealth, spending their own share of GST on their own regional priorities. Bring it on.
Posted by Ian Mott, 16/04/2010 10:11:46 AM, on Queensland Country Life
Ms Bligh seems to be as stupid as the piece running NSW.
Posted by jerangle, 16/04/2010 12:47:52 PM, on Queensland Country Life
The woman is getting more brainless by the day. She needs to concentrate on real issues affecting Qlders.
Posted by les, 16/04/2010 7:13:36 PM, on Queensland Country Life
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