STATE GOVERNMENT REJECTS DAYLIGHT SAVING REFERENDUM

New research released today by the State Government reveals that regional and rural Queenslanders remain overwhelmingly opposed to the introduction of daylight saving.

Premier Anna Bligh said based on the research findings State Cabinet had decided not to proceed with any trial or referendum on daylight saving.

“When I became Premier I promised to listen to the regions and their voice on this issue couldn’t be louder,” Ms Bligh said.

“Only 36% of residents outside the south east corner indicated any support for daylight saving.

“The figure for business was even lower at 32%.

“Figures for residents and businesses in south east Queensland and the total figure for the State were higher at 69% and 59% respectively but we have to govern for all of the State and I cannot and will not ignore regional and rural Queensland.”

The ACNielsen Research was commissioned by the State Government to determine whether there had been any significant change in community attitudes toward daylight saving since the 1992 referendum in Queensland.

The research was conducted between July and September this year and consisted of three parts – a desktop review of existing material related to daylight saving, a quantitative component consisting of a phone survey of 1,000 residents and 600 businesses throughout the State and a qualitative component consisting of eight resident focus groups and depth business interviews. Approximately two thirds of the participants were from south east Queensland (600 residents and 400 businesses) and one third from the rest of the State (400 residents and 200 businesses).

Daylight saving is the practice of rescheduling the day by the clocks by a specified time to prolong evening daylight. All states and territories except Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory have permanently adopted a system of daylight saving.

“In the 1992 referendum 45.5% of voters across Queensland voted in favour of introducing daylight saving and 54.5% against,” Ms Bligh said.


“This new research shows there certainly has been a shift in community attitudes however regional Queensland remains firmly opposed.”

Key figures from the survey are attached.

Ms Bligh said it was also clear from the survey that the majority of Queenslanders did not support a split zone system of daylight saving.

“Only 33% of all residents supported the introduction of daylight saving in south east Queensland alone,” she said.

“Findings from the research indicate people did not support a split time zone because it would create division within the community, cause confusion, create difficulties for people and businesses located in the border areas and increase business costs.

“These results are conclusive so based on these findings we will also not be holding a referendum on a split zone system nor conducting a trial.”

Ms Bligh said she personally could see the benefits of daylight saving but she could not ignore the findings of the research.

‘I grew up on the Gold Coast and I can certainly see the benefits in terms of lifestyle and business,” she said.

“However, the reality is that outside of south east Queensland there is not enough extra light in the morning which can be saved and shifted to the evening to make daylight saving beneficial.

“This is due to the fact that in winter, the sun rises in a line parallel to the Queensland coast but in summer it rises in a line parallel to the New South Wales Coast with the result being SEQ has sunrise much earlier than the rest of the State in the west.

“That time difference can already be anywhere up to an hour - for example sunrise in Brisbane this morning was at 5.27am but in Mount Isa it was 6.23am.

“I intend to be a Premier for the whole State – not just one part - therefore my Government will not introduce daylight saving in Queensland.”

Full results of the research undertaken by ACNielsen are available on http://www.premiers.qld.gov.au/policy/research/Daylight_Saving_Research/

1October, 2007

Media contact: Premiers Office (07) 3224 4500