The daylight saving debate has raised its head again as southern states prepare to put their clocks forward an hour.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate is the latest to join fresh calls for a referendum on the matter, and thinks having a different time zone to NSW and Victoria is “ridiculous”.
Mayor Tate says Queenslanders deserve to have their say.
“1992 was the last referendum on this issue and the world of commerce, communications, travel and employment has dramatically changed over 31 years,” Mayor Tate says.
“Since 1992, the Queensland population has grown by two million residents,
“Let’s put it to a referendum on March 16, 2024... the same day as our state-wide local council elections. That is the most financially viable way to do it as the Queensland Electoral Commission staff, and processes, are in place for council elections.”
Mayor Tate claims we’re losing billions in lost economic opportunity for the region.
He thinks splitting Queensland into two different time zones is also a viable option.
Former member for Nicklin, Peter Wellington, tabled a Bill in the Queensland Parliament in 2010 but despite community consultation showing Queenslanders were in favour of a referendum and a daylight savings trial the Bill was defeated.
“That makes sense to me,” Mayor Tate says.
“The world we live in today is much closer, considering advances in infrastructure, transport and technology,
“On the Gold Coast, the problem is more acute as we share the biggest State border in Australia with Tweed Heads,
“Many Gold Coast families have living, working, family, health and education arrangements in both States,
“It’s not fair to those people and it’s not fair to all Queenslanders who want that extra hour of daylight in the evening when they can use it, rather than at 4.30am which is when the sun rises in the middle of summer,
“Let’s get on with it.”
Daylight Saving Time begins at 2am on Sunday 1 October.
