Contents

News 2010

News and views from the anti-daylight saving front

The following are a small selection of anti-daylight saving developments, drawn from readers' emails, public domain media releases, and other related websites and information sources.

*Queensland split timezone debate re-opens: Time line*

Labour MPs agree to split-timezone consultation

The story thus far ...

Early in April, Independent MP Peter Wellington introduced a private members bill into Queensland parliament that proposed the introduction of daylight saving to south-east Queensland only.

In response, Queensland Premier Anna Bligh went on Twitter on 14 April to guage support for the introduction of a split timezone for SE Queensland. The following day, the premier called a special Caucus meeting on the issue. The outcome of the meeting was that all Labor MPs were directed to consult with their electorates to guage support for a split timezone in SE Queensland.

In addition to a public consultation, the Government set up a website to invite public feedback. The online feedback closes on 31 May. If the feedback is positive, Premier Bligh said there could be a trial and a referendum.

Since then, feedback from Labor MPs has predictably shown strong opposition to a daylight saving trial, a split timezone and a referendum in the rural-regional areas. In Brisbane and the Gold Coast, there has been strong support for daylight saving but support for a referendum on a split timezone is weaker than expected.

Other feedback has found that a majority of Queenslanders also believe the whole timezone issue to be a distraction from the premier's embattled political position on the pending privatisation of state government assets and the health payroll debacle.

Related reading selection:

'Why Anna is boxed in over daylight saving,' Madonna King, Courier Mail, 29 May 2010

'Lack of enthusiasm for daylight saving zone,' Chris O'Brien, ABC News Online, 28 May 2010

'Queenslanders are distressed about the possibility of a split timezone says Bligh,' Courier Mail (AAP), 25 May 2010

'Strong resistance against daylight saving: Labor,' Chris O'Brien, 18 May, ABC News Online, 17 May 2010

'Consultation continues as daylight saving support remains split,' Chris O'Brien, ABC News Online, 17 May 2010

'Labour MPs gather daylight saving data from electorates,' Steven Wardill, Courier Mail, 21 April 2010

'Labor MPs agree to daylight saving consutation,' ABC News Online, 15 April 2010

'Anna Bligh tweets for daylight saving,' The Australian, 15 April 2010

'Move to bring daylight saving back,' ABC News Online, 14 April 2010

Other News ...

Alaska, April 2010

Anti-daylight saving bill killed off by lone Alaskan legislator

The much anticipated final vote on the abolition of daylight saving bill in Alaska never happened.

After ten years of hard work by the Alaskan anti-daylight saving campaign, opinion polls registering a majority oppostion to daylight saving, and a very hopeful vote (22-15) in support of the bill in the Lower House of state Congress in March last year, the bill was buried by Senator Donald Olsen without giving the Senate a chance to vote.

[Light of Day comment:

This bill was shaping up to be the most exciting news on the US anti-daylight saving front in a long time.

The difference between this and all other US anti-daylight saving bills in the past is that none had ever been able to get beyond the Committee stage. More often than not, they are quietly shelved without even getting to a vote.

Although this bill actually got to be voted on in the Alaskan Lower House, and passed by a substantial majority, Senator Olsen saw fit to hold onto the bill and not pass it to a Senate vote. This indicates that the bill looked very likely to have been passed.]

Further reading:

End Alaska Daylight Saving

--------------------------

This is how the story was reported by Light of Day in March last year:

[Flashback] Alaska, 25 March 2009

House Passes Bill Exempting Alaska From Daylight-Saving Time, moves to Senate

A bill repealing daylight saving time in Alaska is on its way to the Alaskan State Senate, after being passed in the House 22-15 on 25 March.

According to End Daylight Saving Alaska :

'[The bill] HB19 moved through the Senate State Affairs Committee. Two additional hearings remain.The Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee (CRA) and the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee (L&C) must hold hearings. These two hearings and a floor vote in the Senate must be held by the end of the second session of this Legislature. The second session will be held next year starting in January 2010.'

United States 2010

Anti-daylight Saving: The Movie

WOW! Anti-daylight saving now has its own feature film!

Wasting Daylight is a new film about a man in the US who starts an anti-daylight saving group. Written and directed by Parker Wallace, the film has been officially selected for a whole swag of film festivals.

Click here to view the trailer and movie info.

[Light of Day comment: We have not seen the film; neither have we much idea of its contents. However, from the look of the trailer, it appears that the film's anti-daylight saver characters are a bit of a motley bunch. On this basis, it might be safe to assume we are being sent up. We just hope it will be done affectionately!]

Bangladesh, April 2010

Bangladesh about-turn on DST

The government of Bangladesh has decided to abandon its intention to introduce daylight saving in the summer of 2010.

The decision to adopt DST was announced last October at the completion of an inaugural trial. The move came as part of a package of power-saving measures that included load shedding and air-conditioning bans from 6-9pm.

The reason for the government's decision to abandon the DST plan is unclear but appears to be driven by lack of public support.

Related reading:

'Panic driven policies hurt the incumbent,' The Daily Star, 10 April 2010

South Australia, April 2010

Rural mayor calls for SA referendum on DST extension

Ceduna Mayor Allan Suter has used the end of daylight saving to repeat calls for a referendum into whether the four week extension introduced in 2009 should remain.

South Australia's west coast communities have repeatedly opposed this and other extensions to daylight saving and have claimed their objections have not been listened to.

"The result of the referendum may be an endorsement of the extension but at least that way we would have an opportunity to have our say," Mr Suter said.

Related reading:

'Mayor urges daylight saving vote,' ABC Online, 5 April 2010

Moscow, Russia, February 2010

Medvedev recommends scrapping DST

In his state-of-the-nation address, President Dmitri Medvedev outlined a plan to have Russia's 11 time zones in the country reduced and daylight saving time scrapped.

Medvedev said that multiple time zones complicated running businesses in the vast country and the switch between summer and winter time harmed people's health.

According to the plan, a bill has been drawn up by lawmakers in both houses of parliament. The bill is yet to be voted on in the lower house, but is believed to have strong backing from an influential committee in the upper house of parliament.

Related reading:

'Senators back Medvedev's plan to redraw Russian time,' Rianovosti, 10 February 2010

Tweed Heads, NSW, January 2010

DST a factor in drowning on non-patrolled beaches

There is no national standard on how late lifesavers or lifeguards should stay on duty, but in most states, the beaches are patrolled during summer from 7.30am to 6.30pm.

In Queensland, where the light is starting to fading by 7pm, this is not much of a problem. However, in the DST states, with daylight continuing up to 8.00pm and beyond during the daylight saving months, people may still be coming to the beach for over an hour after the lifesavers have gone home.

Related reading:

'40 drowning deaths at Australian beaches,' Jeremy Pierce, Courier Mail, 21 January 2010