Page 876 - Week 03 - Thursday, 14 April 1994
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Unfortunately, in recent times, it does appear that Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia have agreed to end daylight saving at the end of March. I believe that South Australia is uncertain as to when they are going to start. I believe that the situation which has arisen whereby Victoria and New South Wales are out of sync on daylight saving is ludicrous. I would also like to draw attention to the fact that New South Wales's opposition to the extension of daylight saving was a position taken by them without any consultation with the ACT. I believe that that is a great shame.
Madam Speaker, I consider that it is essential for the ACT and New South Wales to be on the same daylight saving schedule. I also believe that it would make eminent sense, if not be absolutely essential, for the whole of the eastern seaboard to be on the same daylight saving regime. This is not just for the community's sake, or for the sake of people crossing borders; it is for the sake of the whole of the business sector, for example, who are in constant communication across borders. This is a ridiculous situation.
I recently received a letter from the Hon. Lou Lieberman, the Federal MHR for Indi, pointing out this situation. He has taken the matter up with the Prime Minister. I wish to advise the Assembly that I am happy to join with Mr Lieberman in looking for a consistent daylight saving schedule, at least for this side of Australia. I think the current situation is ridiculous. If State leaders cannot agree on a relatively straightforward matter like this, then I believe that national reforms of a more significant nature are going to be extremely difficult indeed, if not impossible.
Madam Speaker, I am sure that all members would share my views on this. In my opinion, an extended daylight saving period is very much in the interests of the Territory. We have a very harsh winter and I think the majority of our community would wish to make the very most of what sunny days we do have. I also think it is good for business. It would certainly be good for our Canberra Festival if we were able to go back to the situation that we had before.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Assembly adjourned at 4.43 pm until Tuesday, 19 April 1994, at 2.30 pm
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