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5:39AM Sunday 23 November, 2008 Sunshine Coast weather Mostly sunny min 17° - max 25°

Daylight saving?

12:00a.m. 4th October 2008

Daylight saving?

Poll: Should we have daylight saving?

See the poll results.

The annual daylight saving debate has rolled around like the proverbial clockwork in anticipation of tomorrow’s time change.

And it seems the debate is just as fierce with bloggers going head-to-head while 64% had one message to Premier Anna Bligh: bring it on.

Clocks will be wound forward one hour at 2am on Sunday morning in New South Wales, Victoria, the ACT, Tasmania and South Australia, and in Western Australia at the end of the month.

One of Anna Bligh’s first decisions as premier after taking the job last September was to reject calls for a referendum on daylight saving as long as she held the job.

Yesterday she was sticking to her guns.

For once her political adversaries agreed, with LNP deputy leader and Caloundra MP Mark McArdle insisting clock changes were well down a political priority list that had health, education, infrastructure and law and order at the top.

Acting Sunshine Coast Tourism CEO Ren van Tulder admitted the time difference was more of an inconvenience for businesses than tourists but believed a solution could be found in splitting Queensland into different time zones.

But only 13% of those voting in the poll at thedaily.com.au wanted a SEQ daylight saving zone, while 22% said no. Voting remains open.

Hastings Street Association spokesperson Jim Berardo said he was growing tired of the constant debate but had his own views on parochial time zones.

“Any time divisions should be done along vertical lines, like what happens in the US, not horizontally across different geographical areas,” he said.

Surf lifesaver Byron Mills was not personally fussed but conceded surf patrols, which were generally packed up by 6pm in summer, could be put under stress if daylight saving was introduced.

“Having more daylight would encourage people to go to the beach later in the evening when the flags have gone down which could be a problem considering most rescues occur in the late afternoon,” he said.

Yandina picture framer Brian Curry has been quietly protesting Queensland’s arms-length attitude to more sunshine since last year by operating the business on his own version of summer time hours and closing at 4pm.

“We should be running by the sun, not the clocks. They’ve got it the wrong way round,” he said.

Recent Comments

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Posted by sunnyone44 from Mooloolaba
on 4 October, 2008 at 5:34 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
This is a comment sent to me yesterday re daylight saving
When I was a kid we never had drought after drought.Then we started with daylight saving.We started with a little bit, but now we have six months of the year daylight saving.it has just become tpp for the environment to cope with.It is so logical, for six months of the year we hqve an extra hour each day of that hot afternoon sun. I read somewhere that scientiic studies had shown there is a lot less moisture in the atmosphere which means we get less rain.I believe this extra one hour is slowly evaporating all the moisture out of everything.Whycan't the Governmentget the CSIRO to do studieson this, or better still get rid of daylight savings. They gave to do something before itis too late. This comment was sent to a newspaper. One of the things I love about Queensland is that we don't have daylight saving and The sun rises and sets as nature intended it to. Here on the coast in summer the sun is up and at it around 4-30/5 am and sets around 6-30/7pm and a stinking hot sweaty day starts to cool down.Surely 14 hours a day is enough sunshine for anyone.
Posted by hermes from mountain creek
on 4 October, 2008 at 6:25 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
sunnyone, my post yesterday, which included a copy of this silly letter sent to the Albury Border Mail, was intended to; somewhat sarcastically, I admit; highlight the absurdity of some arguments against DST, LOL. However, DST is essentially a lifestyle choice, people who work business hours (like the majority of SEQ) and want time after work to spend outdoors in daylight, want DST, people who like a long time before work to go surfing, boating etc, don't want DST; and some people are just afraid of change (any change...)
Posted by Muggins from Pacific Paradise
on 4 October, 2008 at 7:03 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
If "14 hours is enough for anyone" (sunnyone44) it won't change if the clock says 4:30 or 5:30 at dawn, the day is still as long as it was, at least you wont be driven out of bed by that damned mudlark screaming on your fence at 4:30 am!!
As for the surf patrols, I was on patrol in Victoria years ago at Apollo Bay and Point Lonsdale, and there was never a problem with the extra hour, because in "real" time we started an hour later.

The old furfy about the cows and milk won't wash either, they come in at the same time every day, it is just the milk truks that arrive an hour early that upsets the applecart'

I agree that the "top end" and the "west" should be left as it is, draw a line from Rocky to Emerald and include them in the Summertime zone, particularly as that area sticks out into the sea further than Sydney , and the sun rises earlier as a result
Posted by Jason from Pomona
on 4 October, 2008 at 7:08 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
For people who work and pay taxes, day light savings gives an extra hour of recreation. It is a mean spirit that seeks to keep us in the dark.
Posted by bugalugs from Buderim
on 4 October, 2008 at 8:48 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Oh sunnyone44, how could you possibly believe that daylight saving has exacerbated the drought? Please tell me it was meant to be tongue in cheek; if it was I apologise. As muggins explained there will still only be the same amount of daylight, remember its the clocks we adjust not the sun.

I went through all these silly arguments 40 years ago when it was introduced in the southern states. Cows still give milk, the curtains haven't faded and the enjoyment it gives to the many people who work until 5-5.30 and who can now have some extra daylight to enjoy the outdoors it greatly appreciated.

If it is a hot day it doesn't matter if it is 7 o'clock or 8 o'clock it's still hot and to waste daylight at 4.30am when most people are still trying to sleep is ridiculous.

Split the state by all means, they are basically doing it to Coolangatta now, so why not do it in a less populous area? Anna Bligh won't put it to the test because she probably believes the majority will now vote for it. If it fails again, so be it, but given that the last poll was conducted 16 years ago when there has been significant change in the population demographics since then, I believe it is time for another vote.
Posted by Arjay from Maroochydore
on 4 October, 2008 at 11:29 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Are we STILL going about this?? I'm a chef, it makes not a lick of difference to me, I never see the summer sun, but some of the arguments I hear are stupifying. I DO however find an irony in someone called sunnyone denying themselves a few more hours in same said sun!!!
Posted by SpareUs from Spin
on 4 October, 2008 at 11:58 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
On almost any issue the Opposition are happy to encourage the irrational view that the Premier is bloody-minded. On this issue, though, they agree with her characteristically compassionate position that a small inconvenience to the majority of the population concentrated in the SE corner of the State is fairer than a very big inconvenience to everyone else.

Internal time zones are not much of a solution because the same problems that arise from (say) Brisbane being out of synch with Sydney would arise between Brisbane and the greater part of Queensland put out of synch with it.
Posted by vanga from caloundra
on 4 October, 2008 at 2:56 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
So let's limit the voting on daylight saving to those who have lived in Queensland for ten or more years.

This will cut out the blow-ins who want everywhere to look and act like another suburb of Sydney.

After 10 years, most people have realised Queensland is different and not the far northern suburbs of Sydney.
Posted by marlin from Yandina
on 4 October, 2008 at 2:59 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
We have lived on the Sunshine Coast for almost 22 years and every year we hear the same silly remarks about introducing daylight saving. Regardless of what some people seem to think, there are still 24 hours to a day, we still have enough hours to sleep at night and the sun still rises and sets. The great thing about daylight saving is that the majority of people can utilise the daylight at the end of the day rather than waste it early in the morning as bugalugs said. I wish people would get over it and we could enjoy it like our southern friends and then we wouldn't have to listen to the rehashed nonsense every year.
Posted by just_jon from Sunshine coast
on 4 October, 2008 at 4:54 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Wake up Queensland, half the civilised world has daylight saving in one form or another. Why should we have to close the blinds so as not to get woken at 4.30am by bright daylight, yet have to bbq at 7.30pm in the dark. We all work hard enough these days and longer hours, let's have a little more time to enjoy the outdoors on lovely balmy summer evenings. Jon from Coolum
Posted by jdt1986 from Buderim
on 4 October, 2008 at 6:29 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
This debate is no longer a matter of IF; It's a matter of WHEN...

It's only a matter of time before QLD (or at least SE QLD) gets DST. And I say bring it on! We need DST here, almost every other civilised country and state in the world has it, and we need it too. QLD, the smart state? More like the backward state...
Posted by john_fogarty from Caloundra
on 4 October, 2008 at 7:17 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Several years ago responding to an advert in a local weekly newspaper I forked out twenty dollars to attend a breakfast in Caloundra to listen to Mark McArdle spend an hour waxing lyrical about the benefits of Daylight Saving in South East Queensland . Now he has changed his mind and become a ventriloquist's dummy to Madame Bligh and Mr Borg with the spiel ''It is not a priority'', in other words ''over my dead body'' . Most of his constituents want Daylight Saving and he is giving them a contemptuous two fingered salute . To the majority who would like some daylight to spend outside with their family's after a hard day's work remembering that the Queensland's Parliament only sits for forty days a year and MLAs actually get paid as if they worked full time , including six months sick leave for being depressed would you please vote for the ''Daylight Saving Party '' and not distribute preferences at the next election . That might give Mr McArdle something to be depressed about . Let there be light !
Posted by vanga from caloundra
on 4 October, 2008 at 7:29 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
wake up just_jon

the other half of the civilised world who don't have daylight saving get up early to enjoy the cool daylight hours - to walk, to fish, to surf, to garden, to sit under their pergola before the heat of the day and the trip to work.

Seems only the cockroaches and mexicans are interested in BBQs after work - if you work as hard as you claim you shouldn't have the energy for BBQs at night.

And the balmy summer mornings are much more fun - no cockroaches or mexicans on the beaches or at the best fishing spots
Posted by EdenDweller from Buderim
on 4 October, 2008 at 8:50 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
If "Toward Q2" is moving our state forward why are we so behind the rest of Aust. with DLS. No, the cows don't wear watches, curtains don't fade quicker, more sunlight? What planet are some people from (sunnyone44)? Germany has done studies on the impact on dairy. NOTHING came out of it. No difference whatsoever. We live in the best place in Oz so why can't we enjoy the hour of sunshine after work to spend with family and friends.
Posted by peewee from Coolum Beach
on 4 October, 2008 at 10:48 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
We had a vote and we said NO. Go a live down south if you want day light savings. Best part of the day is the mornings anyway. It is not fair for the rest of Queensland.
Posted by proDST from Battery Hill
on 5 October, 2008 at 8:40 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I really am in disbelief at the narrow minded, ignorant people that live in this beautiful country, yes people are entitled to there own opinions i am all for that but there is no excuse in this day in age, not to know at least some of facts relating to daylight saving.
eg: 1 hour forward on a clock does not heat the world!!!!
The cows have no friggen idea how our time structure works, they are woken by the sun,

which i might add putting the clocks forward on earth does not affect the earths orbit around the sun, but im sure some of these cave dwelling hicks would believe it, if it was on today tonight!!.

I agree with the rest of you, who are for,DST, bring it on, you never know it might have a poitive affect on our waistlines if we did, utilise the time in the evening in a positve fashion in walking, swiming, riding, not to mention well being.

studdies prove essential vitamins come from the sun/daylight which promote feel good drugs in the body, I work in a shopping centre and barely see the sun all day and there's nothing more depressing than coming out to darkness,
vice verser the enjoyment of seeing sunlight and taking in a big deep breath of fresh warm summer air at the end of a hard day and being able to unwind after work outside with the sun still up.

the online poll says it all...
Posted by marlin from Yandina
on 5 October, 2008 at 3:15 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I can't believe some of the narrow-minded comments I am reading. Comments from Vanga regarding people who have chosen to move here and live (from Southern states) just adds fuel to the fire. Yes I was born in NSW and loved living there but I also have loved living here for 22 years. I have experienced daylight saving and love it. That does not mean that I need to move south again. Last time I looked, we were Australians first who are free to move about the country as we choose. I just think it is time that those against it took the time to actually understand the concept.
Posted by jdt1986 from Buderim
on 5 October, 2008 at 3:41 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
To me, this argument no longer seems to be about DST... It seems to now be about narrow minded old timers and traditionalists who feel threatened by the prospect of change. People, get yours heads out of the sand and recognise that the vast majority of people (probably including yourselves!) will experience an improvement in their lives with DST, it will benefit almost everyone (In SE QLD at the very least)!
Posted by vanga from caloundra
on 6 October, 2008 at 8:50 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
daylight savings was introduced during the first world war as a cost savings measure in the munitions factory - they could force their workers to go from sun up to sun down to make bombs. (in northern europe that was 9pm without electricity) with daylight savings they got an extra hours work from their workers - the workes trudged to the factories in the dark so that htey could work the full dyalight hours without needing electricity.

and so the party party set want to continue this travesty so that they can barbecue until late at night. get a life or get some electric lights - and then you can barbecue as late as you want.

as for the southerners going back home - my first post was for those who have lived without DsT for ten years to be the only ones to be able to vote

This stops the recent blow ins (such as myself - only 5 years - but rellies up here for 25) from dictating how the locals want to live.

Daylight saving may be wonderful in Melbourne or Sydney (you have to have something to keep you intereted so changing the clocks is something special) but in the sub tropics and tropics it is not necessary.

Do a google for sun rise and sun set for Townsville, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart..... see what differrence if any your extra hour will make. Or maybe Mister Editor can publish the facts - when sunrise and sunset is at the spring, summer and autumn equinox for the cities I mentioned above - then everyone can add an jhour to see if it is really worthwhile
Posted by coyote1969 from Sunshine Coast
on 6 October, 2008 at 6:41 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
As per normal Qld will come into line with the rest of Australia with DLS its just a matter of when. Qld always takes longer to accept a good idea, compulsory seatbelts took 10 yrs, the introduction of .05 took similar amount of time. Does anyone disagree with those introductions now? We are the laughing stock of Australia becasue of our slowness.

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