National solution sought for daylight saving dilemma

The councils would like the federal government to investigate the implementation of three permanent time zones, 30 minutes ahead of present time, which would solve the cross border issues as well as give all Australians maximum daylight hours all year round.

The proposal is from Queensland-based resident, Dr Allan Clarke after extensive research he has done into the options in Australia and across the world.

The Western Councils say daylight saving does not suit residents living in the more western parts of the time zone and it is complicated for people living on the borders.

In summer, Australia has five time zones and there is very little benefit to changing the time.

Dr Clarke explained daylight saving was beneficial when solar noon time was between 12 and 1pm wherever residents lived and the three national time zones allowed this to happen, without the need for people to change their clocks.

President John Medcalf said the Western Division would push for a national solution to the issue but in NSW they were keen to pursue a set time zone for the West based on the current Queensland (Eastern Standard) Time Zone or a reduction in the days to the end of February.

Daylight Saving in NSW was approved in a 1976 referendum to extend from the last Saturday in October until the first Sunday in March, four months.

The present six month time frame was introduced in 2008 without a referendum.

Prior to the NSW Government election the coalition promised to look into the matter but little has been done since then.

The Western Division believes this is an important issue for residents of western NSW and has anecdotal evidence overwhelmingly supporting changing back to four months.

"We understand the residents on the east coast enjoy the early morning sun but it is not the same for western district residents.

"Western Division Councils would be approaching the federal and NSW governments, once again to resolve the issue," Cr Medcalf said

He said the present daylight saving regime was an economic cost to businesses, education, health and transport operators on the State borders which could be fixed with a national solution.