Schrinner told Qld too busy with Covid to think about daylight saving
The tourism sector’s hope for one win out of the pandemic has been dashed after the government ruled out giving voters a say on daylight saving.
The State Government has rejected calls for daylight saving (photo: Queensland.com)
Lord Mayor Adrain Schrinner had made the call, backed by a petition of 18,000 signatures, for the state to give people a say on the issue which arises every summer when Queensland sticks to Australian Eastern Standard Time and other states shift an hour forward.
But Schrinner had also made the plea on behalf of business as a way of recovering from the impact of the pandemic.
In response, Attorney General Shannon Fentiman said daylight saving was not being considered by the State Government.
“The Government believes there are other priorities facing Queenslanders that require urgent attention, including delivering initiatives in response to the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, as outlined in our economic recovery plan,” Fentiman said.
Schrinner said he was disappointed with the response.
“But hopefully this now means once the pandemic is over the State Government will proceed with a proper trial,” he said.
Daylight saving was last trialled by the Goss Government was but was rejected in a 1992 referendum with a 54 per cent negative vote. However there was a strong vote in favour in the south east.
