Whether or not it was the crowing of the roosters or a sudden surge of blood to the brain, Queensland Opposition Leader National MP Jeff Seeney is now supporting a split time zone for southeast Queensland.Jeff Seeney said discussions over daylight saving for southeast Queensland are not over yet, after the Premier Anna Bligh ruled out daylight saving for Queensland including the southeast corner of the state.
The National Party Leader offered a remarkable view for a conservative Queensland politician when he weighed into the debate with the following frank admission:
"I think in south-east Queensland it certainly has a lot of benefits and sooner or later I think we have to seriously consider how we ensure that people can get those benefits."
A truly remarkable statement indeed for the National Party which up until now has been more-protective of milking times for cows in rural Queensland than supporting an enhanced quality of life for the people of the southeast corner.
Broken Hill in New South Wales is on a split time zone from the rest of the state and operates very successfully all year round on South Australian time.
Despite the fact that 59% of Queenslanders now support daylight saving, nothing is likely to change in Queensland in the near future.
Perhaps, it is time to take the matter to the Federal Parliament.
On 30 July 1974, the Federal Attorney-General - and future High Court Judge - Lionel Murphy made a statement to the Senate that the Commonwealth Parliament had the constitutional power to introduce daylight saving in Australia and to control the standard time zones around the nation under the "weights and measures" powers granted to the Commonwealth Parliament under section 51 of the Australian Constitution. Lionel Murphy was ahead of his time with such a view 33 years ago which accords with the the High Court's broad interpretation of the extent Commonwealth's constitutional powers.If the Commonwealth Parliament enacted a law in relation to daylight saving, it would override any inconsistent state laws by virtue of section 109 of the Australian Constitution.
Prime Minister John Howard is on the record as supporting a split time zone for southeast Queensland.
Let's hope Kevin Rudd has the same view because he should be in a position to do something about it in a few weeks' time.
