The age old daylight savings debate continues to rouse fire in the bellies of north Queenslanders, with Katter's Australian Party launching a parliamentary petition in the hope of putting the issue to bed for good.
Subscribe now for unlimited access to all our agricultural news
across the nation
or signup to continue reading
The petition calls for the Queensland Parliament to formally recognise the impact any introduction of daylight saving time would have on the people of north, central and western Queensland.
KAP leader and Traeger MP Robbie Katter said livability in the north, and particularly the north west, would be eroded by daylight savings due to the region's oppressive heat and its impacts on day to day life.
"During summer 40-plus degree days are the norm in north and central west Queensland, with sunrise occurring at around 6.15am and sunset about 7.30pm in Mount Isa during these months," he said.
"Moving sunrise to 7.15am and sunset to 8.30pm would mean the outdoors would be oppressively warm until close to bedtime.
"Brisbane has never taken the north's push for a separate state seriously but now they are dividing us by stealth with this annual campaign to forget the rest of the State and do what Brisbane wants when it comes to daylight savings."
Queensland Farmers' Federation chief executive officer Dr Georgina Davis said despite the political and social debate every year, she is yet to see robust evidence on the benefits and costs of utilising daylight-saving time in Queensland.
"From average daily sunshine hours data, we know that northern Queensland will not see benefits from a time zone adjustment unlike Southeast Queensland, where the ability to partake in outdoor afternoon activities is often cited," she said.
"We also understand the frustrations that arise from the disparate business trading and schooling hours for those living and working on the NSW-QLD border.
"Given the size of Queensland, any daylight-saving adjustment may need to occur somewhere around Rockhampton, which simply moves the issues caused by one arbitrary line on a map to somewhere else."
Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto said he was underwhelmed by the latest University of Queensland research which showed strong support for daylight savings in the state.
"Researchers have found 70 per cent of Brisbane residents and 60 per cent of Queenslanders overall want daylight savings," he said.
"This may be the case but I wonder how many of those 60 per cent of Queenslanders in favour live in the south-east corner.
"Any Queensland government would consider introducing daylight savings at its peril and we are politely warning them with this with this petition."
For further reading:
Want daily news highlights delivered to your inbox? Sign up to the North Queensland Register newsletter below.
