Daylight Saving for South East Queensland Private Members Bill
In early 2010, DS4SEQ approached Independent Member Peter Wellington to introduce a private members Bill.[9] As Wellington agreed with the principles of the DS4SEQ proposal, he introduced the Daylight Saving for South East Queensland Referendum Bill 2010 into Queensland Parliament on 14 April 2010.[10]
The Premier of Queensland, Anna Bligh, responded by announcing a community consultation process, which resulted in over 74,000 respondents participating, 64 percent of whom voted in favour of a trial of daylight saving and 63% were also in favour of holding a referendum.[11] As part of the consultation, DS4SEQ made a formal submission on behalf of its members and supporters.[12]
During the consultation, DS4SEQ held its own 'referendum' on the Gold Coast, surveying more than 1000 people, and alerting them to the fact that the government was running a consultation on daylight saving.[13]
On 7 June 2010, and after reviewing the favourable consultation results, Bligh announced that her Government would not support the Bill, because regional Queenslanders were overwhelmingly opposed to daylight saving.[14] In spite of this announcement, DS4SEQ continued to call for Bligh and her government to reconsider their position.[15]
Because the Bligh Government did not support the Bill, it was defeated in Queensland Parliament on 15 June 2011.[16]
In March 2012, DS4SEQ presented a formal submission to the newly appointed NSW Cross Border Commissioner, Cr Steve Toms, to inform him of the ongoing daylight saving debate within Queensland. This submission included two key recommendations for Cr Toms to consider:
1. evaluate the economic loss incurred by NSW businesses due to Queensland's non-adoption of Daylight Saving, and quantify the social detriment to NSW-Queensland border communities; 2. lobby the Queensland Premier to: a. hold a trial of Daylight Saving in Queensland, or at least in south-east Queensland; b. evaluate the economic benefits and quantify the community and lifestyle benefits of introducing Daylight Saving into Queensland, or in south-east Queensland; and c. after the trial period, hold a referendum of all Queensland registered voters.[17]
In early April 2012, DS4SEQ presented a formal submission to the newly elected Premier of Queensland, Campbell Newman, to put forward the case for addressing daylight saving in Queensland. This submission included four key recommendations for Premier Newman and his Government to consider:
1. hold a trial of daylight saving in Queensland, or at least in south-east Queensland;
2. implement an education program during the trial;
3. hold a referendum of all registered Queensland voters after the trial period;
4. evaluate the economic, community and lifestyle benefits of introducing daylight saving into Queensland, quantify the social detriment to communities along the NSW-Queensland border, and evaluate the economic loss currently incurred by businesses in other Australian states because of Queensland's non-adoption of daylight saving.[18]