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2007 QLD Govt Why
is Brisbane When a faded curtain is not a joke
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Question
19 |
In fact, the report's interpretations of the overall response to Q19 are
very confusing. Those who registered support for daylight saving as
a principle in general, that is (a) above, amounted to 59 per
cent of those surveyed statewide. In southeast Queensland, the figure
was 69 per cent.
However, in terms of stating their support for the introduction
of daylight saving to the whole state, that
is (b) above, the figures were 52 per cent statewide, and 60 per cent
for SEQ. [page 74]
This distinction is very important because it shows that a significant proportion of those surveyed support daylight saving itself, but not its introduction to Queensland. Yet this result was ignored in the report's Executive Summary. In its place, the Summary made a strange claim:
The survey results demonstrate a shift in opinion towards support of DST [daylight saving time] since the 1992 referendum, with an increase in support from 46% to 59% in 2007 to the principle in general. [page 10] |
This is clearly a comparison of the government research findings for Q19
with the results of the 1992 referendum in which 45.5 per cent voted Yes
to daylight saving. Yet, when you compare the wording of Q19 with the
1992 referendum question, the claim of a 13 per cent 'increase in support'
is spurious. Here is the question that appeared on the 1992 ballot paper:
Are you in favour of daylight saving? Yes No [3] |
No one voting in that referendum was in any doubt that the objective of
a majority Yes vote was to introduce DST to
the whole state on a permanent basis. So to
compare the 1992 Yes vote with the 2007 response to Q19a - while ignoring
the response to Q19b - is an utterly misleading comparison.
Predictably, the media latched on to the '59 per cent' figure and has continued to misrepresent it as the percentage of Queenslanders that 'want' daylight saving (see Light of Day News, 'Without a trace: the mysterious case of the vanishing 52 per cent'). Yet there has been no trace of any querying, in either the media or blogosphere, as to why the percentage of Queenslanders 'wanting' DST got so high all of a sudden (unlike people who run anti-daylight saving websites). This is especially odd considering hardly any daylight saving surveys undertaken in Queensland over the last 15 years have revealed any significant swings to daylight saving at all. In particular, one other statewide independent poll, taken at the same time as the 2007 government research and published in the Sunday Mail on 1 July, revealed that only 45 per cent statewide wanted DST introduced - i.e. no change at all from 1992. [4]
Another very important point to consider is that, from a daylight saving opposition viewpoint, Q19 is simply not a fair question. As people who work in advertising and marketing well know, wording psychology can make a huge difference to customer response. A question that asks people 'to what extent' they 'support' something focuses the listener's thoughts on their degree of support - not on whether they support it or not. This concept-framing favours an 'acceptance' response rather than a 'rejection' response, especially among those who don't feel strongly about a subject.
Had the question simply asked 'whether' they support the 'introduction' of daylight saving time to Queensland or not, the concept-framing would have been a lot more objective - and might well have produced a significantly higher rejection response.
2. Explaning away the rejection of a split time zone
In response to the prospect of dividing the state into two time zones (Q28) [page 260], Queenslanders were somewhat underwhelmed. Only 33 per cent statewide, and 41 per cent in SE Queensland, were in favour of dividing the state (other opinion polls have shown even lower figures [5]). However, instead of assuming the naysayers might have a point, their views were dismissed largely as ignorance:
There is a general lack of understanding by Queenslanders of the reasons for introducing 2 time zones ... A demonstration of differing summer sunrise times across the state via the use of a satellite map introduced an appreciation of the logic for split time zones. [page 14] |
The irony of this statement seems to be completely lost on whoever wrote it. For thirty years rural-regional Queenslanders, as well as metropolitan DST opponents, have used the differing summer sunrise (and sunset) times across the state to give weight to their own case against statewide daylight saving. Undoubtedly, the above statement is an argument in favour of a split time zone; however, it is an even more important argument against forcing the whole state onto DST simply because of the strident demands of a populous but tiny area at the bottom the state.
Other important split time zone revelations went unremarked. For example, Mackay residents were described as being 'particularly opinionated and negative to split time zones' [page 129], but the report writers failed to connect this observation to Mackay's proximity to the separate daylight saving time zone of the Whitsunday Islands and Airlie Beach.
There was also a tendency to casually gloss over important forewarnings of ongoing divisiveness and controversy, should a split time zone be introduced:
While
there is a general consensus (apart from Toowoomba residents) that
a logical western border for splitting time zones is west of Toowoomba
... [page
14] |
These issues represent only the tip of the iceberg. According to many
of the emails received at Light of Day,
residents from the thoroughly anti-DLS towns of Toowoomba-Gatton-Nambour
are justifiably angry at the prospect of being forcibly trapped in a separate
daylight saving zone. Likewise, many angry pro-daylight saving Bundaberg-Gladstone
business people are convinced their businesses will suffer if they are
not included in any split time zone arrangements.
Ultimately, the report falls into line with the 'all or nothing' approach
rather than attempting to push for alternatives, implying that a consensus
is just too hard to reach. This is probably why the only real action the
report recommends on the split time zone issue is to:
... educate residents and businesses on the debate, logic and decision process. [page 14] |
In the language
of daylight politics, this translates as 'keep lobbying until you get
what you want'.
3. Failing
to acknowledge significant inherent challenges to prevailing beliefs
One major preoccupation of the research brief was the gathering of a lot of information about Queenslanders' daily routines and behaviours, like when we get up in the morning and when we prefer to feed the dog. This makes for some interesting reading, and actually dispels a few long-held DST myths. However, this myth-busting was largely inadvertent and does not appear to have been part of the research brief. It includes:
Unsurprisingly,
none of the above interpretations feature in any key findings or summaries
within the report.
4.
Reinforcing stereotypes and perceptions
as facts
Instead of presenting an analysis of how specific Queensland
conditions affect the acceptance or rejection of daylight saving, the
research team seemed more interested in making interpretations that simply
reinforced daylight saving stereotypes that have existed worldwide for
decades.
This was
done with the help of analytical categories like 'Demographic Findings',
'Regional Insights and General Observations' and the bizarre 'Understanding
Mindsets' (no prizes for guessing whose).
All the old prejudices are there, only the names have been changed - literally!
DST supporters and opponents were repackaged with brand new titles: the
'Convinced' and 'Unconvinced'. (May as well have been 'Us' and 'Them'.)
Even the neutrals did not escape a value-loaded judgement - they were
called 'Sceptics'.
According to the selection of comments that made it to the pages of the
report, the Convinced say awfully decent, open-minded things like:
Queensland is such a big state with so many different industries from agriculture in the west, mining, tourism in Cairns ... it's great there is something for everyone. [page 127] |
Conversely, the Unconvinced say dumb, insular things like:
Why would you want to eat dinner at eight anyway? [My] husband would spend more time at the pub. [page 124] |
If the selection of quotes are any guide, we are expected to believe that
the Convinceds were on their most enlightened behaviour during their phone
interviews and never succumbed to any ranting or raving about curtains,
cows and Dark Ages ignorance. Likewise, any Unconvinceds who might have
provided clear-sighted arguments on the negative DST/split time zone implications
facing all Queenslanders must surely have been out when AC Nielson called.
The
Convinced appeared to have like-minded values to those of the report writers
- enough for several key findings to demonstrate a considerable degree
of empathy with how they think:
The Convinced see a clear north, south, west divide, but in contrast to the ... Unconvinced, they are comfortable with the social and economic differences. [page 127] |
The wording used to describe the Convinceds was inclined to be objective
rather than subjective. As a result, the Convinceds' perception
of DST's benefits tended to come across as irrefutable, universal facts:
Not
surprisingly, the convinced are strong supporters of DST because
of the lifestyle benefits it provides. [page
127] |
On the other hand, DST/split time zone disadvantages were routinely described in indirect terms - as 'perceptions' or 'concerns' on the part of the Unconvinced - thus diluting their validity. Unlike the Convinced, the views of the Unconvinced tended to be treated more as reactionary responses and, at times, subjected to psychobabble:
The Unconvinced mention a range of drawbacks, the core emotive reasoning relates to a general resistance to change ... [page 124] There is significant concern that introducing two time zones will be divisive ... [page 11] Mackay residents are particularly opinionated and negative to split time zones ... [page 129] |
The writers also appear unaware of the existence of several studies that
actually debunk perceptions about DST's beneficial effects on road safety,
health and energy usage, particularly outside the summer months (see Light
of Day links):
Information presented on the lower incidence of road accidents with DST is not believed by the majority (even though it is factual information). [bold ours] [page 130] |
5 . Sacrificing objectivity for value judgements
It's very hard to create a values-free questionnaire. However, the research questions 'developed in consultation with the Department of the Premier and Cabinet' were steeped in many of the usual seize-the-day value judgements that unwittingly attach themselves to daylight saving surveys. When asked about their typical evening routine (Q9), respondents were read out a specific list of choices:
... outdoor exercise/ indoor exercise/ driving others to outdoor activities/ outdoor hobbies, interests, clubs/ indoor hobbies, interests, clubs/ outdoor dining at home (like a BBQ)/ outdoor dining away from home (like a cafe, resaurant, or someone else's home. [page 247] |
Phew! If we kept this up every night, we'd all collapse or go broke.
Respondents were given little to no opportunity to consider whether (or
how often) they spend evening time at home and indoors
- resting, reflecting, winding down from the day, cooking or catching
up on housework. (To be fair, the categories 'None of the above'
and 'Others (specify)' were included on the interviewers' script
but, curiously, with instructions not to read them out.)
Also notable by its absence was the 'watching TV' option - far and away
the nation's most consistently popular evening pursuit ... in all seasons.
Apparently, coming home from work exhausted and flopping in front of the
box does not happen in daylight saving research-land. And, while outdoor
dining and going out to eat were included among the evening options, the
daily tasks surrounding a typical household (indoor) evening meal - shopping
for food, preparation, cooking, eating and washing up - were not.
Some conclusions ...
From the point of view of an anti-daylight saver, there were many disappointments
in the report. However, by far the biggest disappointment is that nowhere
in the questionnaire or interpretations is there any mention of alternatives
to the clock-change option - either for south-east Queensland or the state
as a whole.
For example, respondents could have been asked for their views on alternative
options, such as changes to existing contract and licensing laws and retail
and work practices, that could make it easier for businesses to operate
across time zones and for people to start and end their work day earlier.
While the report recommends that information campaigns would be useful
in educating the public on how split time zones would work, there was
no suggestion that information campaigns could also encourage people to
reorganise their daylight usage under the status quo.
Instead, the choices given were clearly limited ones - i.e. between whether the clocks are changed in south-east Queensalnd only or throughout the whole state. (This is not necessarily the fault of the researchers - more the limited scope of the brief.
What the so-called research does indicate is that the polarisation of debate along a perceived demographic faultline - with a 'sophisticated', 'metropolitan' south-east Queensland on the one side, and a 'backward', 'yokel' rest-of-the-state on the other - is still very much alive. In the words of one south-east Queenslander:
I don't mean to be rude to those people who live up there, but there's more of us down here ... For them on the farm or whatever, does it matter if they get up an hour later? [page 126] |
Notes
1. This review
concentrates on the residential (not business) survey. Although the views
of south-east Queensland businesspeople overwhelmingly drive the DST and
split time zone campaigns, it is the results of the residential survey
that is more relevant to how Queenslanders would vote in a referendum.
2. Understanding Attitudes Towards Daylight
Saving in Queensland, The Nielson Company 2007. Released 1 October
2007, the report covers the results of two questionnaires - one residential,
one business. The residential questionnaire comprised a 15-minute phone
interview with 1000 residents statewide - 600 form south-east Queensland
and 400 from the rest of the state.
3. Daylight Saving Referendum StatisticalReturns
1992, Electoral Commission of Queensland, 1992, p.11
4. 'Don't split our state,' Edmund Burke, Sunday
Mail, 1 July 2007, p.1, p.5
December, 2007
