I notice my fellow columnist Jane Stephens wrote about supporting daylight saving in Queensland. She suggests that we split the time zone so the southeast has daylight saving but the rest of the state operates on Queensland time.
Just a disclaimer: Jane is way smarter and more qualified to write a column than yours truly, which is kind of the problem with her argument.
She mentions that the last time we had it was 1992 and a lot has changed since then, which is correct but not an argument. It is the reason we keep having the debate.
The population has nearly doubled since then, which is the problem, as probably a couple of million of those newcomers have come from south of the border.
I find that this is the most confusing part: they come up here because they think it’s better – willingly leaving daylight saving behind – but then want to change things when they get here.
Sure, they think they are smarter than us but therein lies the problem: most of us like it like this. It’s Queensland. This is how we roll. If the surf is good, nothing gets done.
The solution of splitting the state in two time zones is flawed.
Most folks outside the southeast believe they are mostly forgotten regarding power, emergency services and infrastructure. Splitting the time zones will only make that gap worse.
I write this column yearly since about 2000. My opinion has never changed.
I usually (facetiously) bring up the faded curtains with too much sun on them and the cows confused about when to come in for milking – which only confirms what our southern friends think of us.
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Also worth consideration is what the sun will do to our skin if we are out in it an extra hour a day.
A study in the US reported that, on average, residents get 19 minutes less sleep a night during daylight saving – that would impact on my beauty sleep, which all agree I really need. The report also said there were more traffic accidents because drivers were tired.
Jane, I have two solutions: if NSW wins State of Origin, which is unlikely but possible if they get the right referee, we go into daylight saving that summer (so, mostly, we won’t have to worry about it). The other solution is to get up earlier.
Welcome to Queensland.
Ashley Robinson is chairman of the Sunshine Coast Falcons and Sunshine Coast Thunder Netball, and a lifetime Sunshine Coast resident.
