Daylight Saving is a step closer in Queensland with the State Government launching a series of newspaper advertisements across the state urging feedback from voters as to the Government's position on a Private Member's Bill introduced by the independent Member for Nicklin Peter Wellington.
People are being urged to reply by email on two questions posed by Premier Anna Bligh:
1. Do you think all Queenslanders should have a referendum on Daylight Saving for South East Queensland only?
2. Should Queensland have a trial of Daylight Saving in South East Queensland before any referendum?
Voters can logon at www.thepremier.qld.gov.au to respond.
Surveys should that up to 70% of voters in South East Queensland support daylight saving, so why doesn't the Government simply introduce it for next summer and bring Queensland into line with the southern states?
Daylight Saving for South East Queensland would make the voters of SEQ happy and would not force daylight saving on rural and regional Queensland, creating a compromise for all Queenslanders.
A split time zone works in Broken Hill in New South Wales which is permanently on South Australian time.
There is no reason a split time zone would not work in Queensland.
This is the first time since Queensland was created in 1859 that a Government has specifically sought public feedback as to how it should vote on a Bill - maybe it should make this a permanent feature of Queensland democracy.
PaulGTully@gmail.com
