Bligh rules out daylight savings for now

Premier Anna Bligh has ruled out the introduction of daylight saving in Queensland this year during a visit to the Sunshine Coast.

Have Your Say: Is it time to put the clocks forward?

Premier Anna Bligh says there will be no daylight saving in Queensland this year.

On the Sunshine Coast today, Ms Bligh said it would be too hard to introduce the time change this year.

“In my view, it would not be possible to look at any trial this summer,” she said.

“I think it’s only fair to rule it out for this summer.

”The government does not yet have a final position on daylight saving, but even if we were looking at trials, my view is that business and the community would need a lot more opportunity to get ready.“

She said the cabinet would consider an independent report into Queenslanders’ views on daylight saving in the very near future.

”We have done a very large piece of research, which is almost finished,“ she said.

”I will take it to our cabinet colleagues and then release it publicly.“

Daylight saving starts in most states on October 28.

Ms Bligh also today launched a campaign to remind Queenslanders of the unique and important role they play in the State's $3.3 billion international tourism industry.

Ms Bligh said the new 'Say G'Day' campaign was designed to highlight that Queenslanders were the most effective marketing and advertising tool of the State's second largest export market.

"Including domestic expenditure, tourism generates more than $18 billion for the Smart State economy every year," Ms Bligh said.

"It also employs more than 140,000 Queenslanders and while we are blessed with some of the world's most significant natural tourism attractions - time and time again international visitors say what they love most is the friendliness of the people.

"This $40,000 campaign will encourage Queenslanders to play a role in ensuring international visitors have a Queensland experience that has them coming back time and time again," she said.

Ms Bligh said the Government had identified growth in new and existing international markets as essential for the future of the state's tourism industry.

"Over the past year, international visitor spending in Queensland has increased by more than $336 million (or 11 per cent) to $3.3 billion, and is expected to grow exponentially in the next decade.

"Queensland is also experiencing exciting growth and opportunities from the new emerging markets of China, India and Korea and we want to see this continue," she said.

Tourism Minister Desley Boyle said the new campaign was part of the Queensland Government's $48 million, 10-year Queensland Tourism Strategy dedicated to securing the economic, environmental and social sustainability of the State's tourism industry.

"We have established 11 international Tourism Queensland offices around the world, as well as two market representatives in India and Malaysia," Ms Boyle said.

"This has been supported by the recent launch of new international language websites, marketing campaigns and international market strategies.

"All of these programs, along with the 'Say G'Day' campaign, are designed to make Queensland a more desirable travel destination for international tourists.

"The Bligh Government is dedicated to the State's tourism industry and, through Tourism Queensland, we will continue to invest in programs that ensure strong economic returns and more job opportunities for Queensland communities," she said

Originally published as Bligh rules out daylight savings for now