Queensland government rejects daylight saving referendum

The Queensland government has rejected Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner's call for a referendum on daylight saving time.

Queensland health minister Yvette D'Ath

Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath says the daylight savings issue is not a focus for the government. Source: AAP / DARREN ENGLAND/AAPIMAGE

Queensland health minister Yvette D'Ath has rejected calls for another vote on introducing daylight saving.

Ms D'Ath said the issue was not a focus for the government after the suggestion of a referendum from Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner.

"We have listened to the people Queensland who have previously said they do not want daylight savings," Ms D'Ath said on Tuesday.

"We're just focused on growing our economy and dealing with our response to COVID."

The state is the only jurisdiction on Australia's east coast that doesn't wind the clock forward by one hour in spring and back by one hour in autumn.

First light in Queensland can occur as early as 4.15am during the summer months.

Queenslanders in 1992 voted against permanently introducing daylight saving time after a three-year trial.

Mr Schrinner says most people under the age of 48 and anyone who moved to the state in the last 30 years hasn't had a say on adjusting time zones.

"That means that over three million out of the five million people in Queensland didn't get a say," he told ABC radio on Tuesday.

"So a (there's) lot of people out there who never got the opportunity to have a say, and I'm actually one of them."

Mr Schrinner suggested a new referendum could be held at the same time as the next state election in 2024.
GOLD COAST
Thirty years ago, 54.5 per cent of Queenslanders voted against daylight saving and 45.5 per cent voted in favour. Source: AAP / DESTINATION GOLD COAST/GCPR

Daylight saving is hotly debated in Queensland every summer, with opposition from people living in the state's tropics, where there's less variation in daylight hours as seasons change.

Katter's Australia Party leader Rob Katter said Mr Schrinner's stance is "irresponsible" and doesn't account for Queenslanders in the state's north.

The Traeger MP said his constituents don't aggressively attack the interests of Brisbanites, and the same should occur the other way.

"To do the mature, right and equitable thing by the whole state, he's got to think a bit more broadly than that," he told AAP.

Mr Katter added the change would impact mine workers in the northwest, and could deter people from relocating to regional Queensland.

"Try encourage people when they're trying to put their kids to bed at night and it's 45C when the sun's still out at 7.30/eight o'clock," he said.

"Good luck with that."

Thirty years ago, 54.5 per cent of Queenslanders voted against daylight saving and 45.5 per cent voted in favour.

Mr Schrinner said having a uniform east coast time zone year-round would make it easier to do business interstate and give people more daylight hours for leisure and work later in the day.

Splitting Queensland into different time zones is another option, but Mr Schrinner said it would be better if everyone in the state was on the same time.

Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman responded to a petition against daylight saving time delivered to parliament in December, saying it was "not currently" under consideration.


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3 min read
Published 22 February 2022 10:47pm
Updated 10 January 2023 2:05pm
Source: SBS News


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