Brisbane lord mayor firing up Queensland’s daylight saving debate
Despite vast indifference, Brisbane lord mayor Adrian Schrinner wants to revive a 1990 template for a summer time act in Queensland.
Brisbane lord mayor Adrian Schrinner wants to fire up the daylight saving debate in the face of indifference by Queensland government, state opposition and business groups to the start of summer time across the border.
Speaking on Sunday after the clocks went forward an hour in the daylight saving states, Mr Schrinner said he would seek to revive a 1990 template for a summer time act in Queensland.
“Our last daylight saving referendum was 30 years ago and no Queenslander under the age of 48 has ever had a say on this issue,” the Liberal National Party lord mayor said. “Each year, the state government comes up with a new excuse about why they don’t want to give people a say – what will it be this year?”
The move comes as West Australian state MP Wilson Tucker, elected last year on a daylight saving platform, prepares private member’s legislation to dispense with the need to put the issue to the people with a fourth referendum in that state.
Under his bill, the WA parliament would decide whether to fall into line with NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT in adopting summer time.
The Northern Territory is the only other jurisdiction besides Queensland to opt out.
WA Premier Mark McGowan has rejected Mr Tucker’s plan, while the state opposition has shown no interest in taking it up.
Both Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and LNP leader David Crisafulli say the state parliament has more pressing matters to deal with.
As The Weekend Australian reported, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland is no longer on the case.
Mr Schrinner said the estimated $4bn cost to the Sunshine State of shunning daylight saving was powerful incentive to revisit the question.
“We’re letting good daylight hours go to waste,” he said.
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