Support grows for daylight saving as thousands call for new trial

Daylight saving continues to divide Queensland, but a looming major event could reignite the debate. VOTE IN THE POLL

Queensland is about to be split into two time zones, igniting renewed calls for the state to return to daylight saving for the first time in 30 years.

With a petition lodged in Queensland parliament by the advocacy group Daylight Saving For South East Queensland gathering almost 17,000 signatures, supporters of the concept are pointing to the looming transfer of Pacific Ocean territory Norfolk Island to Queensland jurisdiction as reason to finally bite the bullet on the contentious issue.

A University of Queensland study this year found more than 60 per cent of Queenslanders were in favour of DST, while the state’s Greens also support a three-year trial of the concept.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has also called for a return to DST ahead of the state’s 2032 Olympics.

While both the State government and the opposition have ruled out any plans to introduce a return of DST, advocates are continuing to ramp up their campaign as the South East Queensland sunrise this week rudely arrives before 5am.

There is also a school of thought that the thousands of southerners who have moved to Queensland during the coronavirus pandemic would further increase support for daylight saving.

Norfolk Island will become a Queensland territory next year and the state will effectively operate two different time zones.

The push is also gathering steam as Queensland prepares to take stewardship of Norfolk Island - which already operates on DST.

Leading DST advocate Thomas Sigler said if Norfolk Island could become part of Queensland on a different time zone, there was no reason why DST could not be trialled in the South East, even if those in north or west Queensland were opposed to the concept.

“There’s always been this argument that we don’t want to split Queensland into different time zones,” said Dr Sigler.

“But that is precisely what is about to happen when Norfolk Island becomes part of Queensland (in January).

“If it’s good enough for Norfolk Island to be on DST, it should be no problem for South East Queensland to bring back daylight saving.”

Dr Thomas Sigler is a leading daylight saving advocate.

He also hit out at a petition launched by outback Queensland MP Robbie Katter calling for the concept to be abandoned forever.

That petition has garnered almost 7000 signatures - well short of the number in favour on the pro-DST petition.

“The whole point of a petition is to lobby for change,” he said.

“Lobbying to keep our current time zones is like having a petition saying you don’t want the sky being green.”

Dr Sigler originally hails from the US, where consideration is being given to making DST a year-round initiative, while a similar move in the Canadian province of Alberta has just been pipped by less than 4000 votes.

“With Queensland’s weather and climate, it is just crazy that we don’t have daylight saving here,” said Mr Sigler.

Both petitions close before the end of the month.