Hello to all our supporters and other interested persons! 
Hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.
I feel very positive about the opportunities that 2010 provides the Daylight Saving for South East Queensland Party, to further progress the issue of Daylight Saving, and I certainly believe there are some interesting times ahead.
Later this month marks 18 years to the day, since the one and only Queensland Referendum on Daylight Saving. The 22 February 2010 is momentous, because on this day anyone born at the time of the Referendum, becomes eligible to vote. That represents a full ‘electoral generation’ having evolved since the 1992 Referendum. These new eligible voters will have never experienced Daylight Saving within Queensland, let alone had a chance to vote on this issue.
This defining moment, further emphasises how a result from 18 years ago is outdated and does not reflect current demographics.
As we approach this red-letter day, I thought I would provide a brief overview of the events that surrounded the 1992 Referendum on Daylight Saving in Queensland:
- In 1989, Premier Mike Ahern (National Party) announced that Daylight Saving would be re-introduced as a one-year trial. A Daylight Saving Task Force was appointed, in order to monitor and report community opinions, and provide recommendations.
- State-wide Daylight Saving commenced in Queensland on 29 October 1989.
- Wayne Goss (Labor) was elected Premier in December 1989.
- Daylight Saving in Queensland ended in March 1990.
- The Daylight Saving Task Force delivered their report to Premier Wayne Goss in May 1990.
- Premier Wayne Goss considered the Task Force advice, with two of their recommendations adopted, and these were: to extend the trial of Daylight Saving for a further two years; and to hold a Referendum after the trial.
- State-wide Daylight Saving continued in Queensland for a further two summers 1990/91 and 1991/92.
- On 22 February 1992 a Referendum on state-wide Daylight Saving was held in Queensland, with the majority voting against the concept.
It should be noted that a further, significant recommendation from the Daylight Saving Task Force was ignored:
“That Daylight Saving be introduced for that part of the State, east of the 151 degree East longitude, for the period adopted by the other states. Eastern Australian Standard Time to apply to the rest of the state.”
Yes, that’s right! In May 1990 (almost 20 years ago), the Daylight Saving Task Force recommended the implementation, and trial, of a dual time zone. The Task Force had recognised that Daylight Saving is favoured within South East Queensland, but not supported outside this region.
The Referendum did not provide further scope for gauging support for a dual time zone. However, analysis of the 1992 Referendum result, confirms the earlier observation made by the Task Force – that Daylight Saving is mainly favoured in the South East Queensland region. Around 60% of constituents in the South East voted in favour of Daylight Saving. Out of Queensland’s 89 electorates, 51 resulted in a majority ‘Yes’ vote, and all of which were located in the South East region.
In 2007, a Queensland Government-commissioned Nielsen report provided a renewed outlook on Daylight Saving and again highlighted this geographic divide, by indicating around 70% of South East Queenslanders are in favour of Daylight Saving.
A dual time zone has never been trialled, nor voted upon, in Queensland. So for both the Queensland Government and state Opposition to continue relying upon a Referendum result from 18 years ago to justify their policy stance, is redundant.
In recognising the Referendum anniversary, let’s reflect upon how the landscape of Queensland has transformed over the past 18 years.
- Queensland’s population in early 1992 was less than 3 million, it has now swelled to around 4.5 million.
- Paul Keating was Australia’s Prime Minister; Wayne Goss was Premier; and Anna Bligh had not yet entered politics.
- Only 1% of the population had a mobile phone; the ‘world wide web’ (internet) didn’t exist; and gaming machines had only been operating in Queensland clubs for just over a week.
- Wally Lewis had recently retired; and the Brisbane Broncos were about to embark on their 5th year in the NSWRL, which was to become their first premiership season.
- The Brisbane Bears were heading into their 6th season in the AFL, and staging their home games at Carrara on the Gold Coast.
- Matt Hayden was enjoying his debut season with the Queensland cricket team, which had still not won the Sheffield Shield.
- Some of the popular TV programs at the time were A Country Practice, E-Street and a show devoted to future developments in science and technology – Beyond 2000.
- Rick Astley and Vanilla Ice were all the rage on the music scene; and Terminator 2 and JFK were screening at the cinemas.
Times have changed over the last 18 years, and the community attitude toward Daylight Saving has progressed to a more generally favourable outlook. Therefore the issue of Daylight Saving should be revisited, and addressed to more accurately reflect current community sentiment. To resolve this issue, the option of a dual time zone, with Daylight Saving for South East Queensland only, should be seriously considered as a viable alternative.
After returning to Brisbane last month, Premier Anna Bligh relayed to her Twitter followers: “…looking forward to 2010 – lots of opportunities & interesting times ahead”.
I couldn’t agree more Premier Bligh. 2010 provides lots of opportunities to resolve the issue of Daylight Saving for Queensland – by introducing a dual time zone. Instead of ignoring the issue of Daylight Saving, applying a more relevant solution would make for more interesting times for all Queenslanders.
After 18 years without Daylight Saving in South East Queensland – “It’s About Time!”
Jason Furze
Party Leader