Daylight Savings in South Eastern Queensland

Residents draw to the attention of relevant South-East Queensland Councils that for five months of the year Queensland is an hour behind five other states and territories including those along the eastern seaboard, because of the introduction of daylight savings in those states and territories. This discrepancy in time zones has a significant effect on the local economy, tourism and businesses operating in Queensland. Further, the 1992 referendum in which Queenslanders categorically rejected daylight saving is now unacceptable as a rationale for failing to introduce Daylight Savings, as the population of Queensland has changed dramatically since this period, and in particular, the population of South-East Queensland has changed dramatically (see details of population growth and GSP).

Arguments against the adoption of daylight savings based on beginning the day in darkness and temperature at the end of the day are irrelevant and irresponsible in South-East Queensland where the sun rises early, and heat at the end of the day is manageable.

Conversely, the arguments for adoption of Daylight Savings (including business consistency for organisations that have offices in southern states, or deal with businesses that are based in southern states) are realistic and compelling. It is nonsensical to suggest that the concerns over Daylight Savings expressed by primary producers and some secondary industries in northern Queensland should have priority over the interests of retail and services sector businesses based in the South-East Queensland corner. These latter retail and service businesses represent the majority of businesses operating in Queensland, and are experiencing the highest growth. Furthermore, these retail and service sector businesses deal more with real-time conversations, transactions and interactions than the primary and secondary businesses referred to above.

Your petitioners, therefore, request relevant Councils to adopt Daylight Savings in South-East Queensland to bring the region and business operating in the region into line with New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.