Vic: Six months of daylight saving for south-east states Bracks

AAP General News (Australia)
08-22-2006
Vic: Six months of daylight saving for south-east states Bracks

MELBOURNE, Aug 22 AAP - Australia's south-eastern states are expected to adopt a common
daylight timetable operating six months of the year, Victorian Premier Steve Bracks says.

Mr Bracks has written to his counterparts in NSW, South Australia, Tasmania and the
ACT after a request from Prime Minister John Howard for the south-eastern states to synchronise
their daylight savings hours.

The state and territory leaders gave in-principle agreement to the plan when Mr Howard
raised it at the last Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting.

The new timetable, which is modelled on Tasmania's current arrangement, would begin
on the first Sunday in October and end on the first Sunday in April, Mr Bracks told Southern
Cross Broadcasting.

Victorians would enjoy an extra 35 days of daylight savings under the proposal.

"I've no doubt that the other states and territories would be a part of this," Mr Bracks said.

"It's a sensible arrangement to look at common times."

Mr Bracks said the push to synchronise the daylight savings timetable across south-eastern
Australia was now more accepted.

Only Queensland, which has no daylight savings, would not be a part of the plan.

"It works effectively and particularly in southern states of course. It does give you
more opportunity with your family and your friends in daylight hours."

Victorian Nationals Leader Peter Ryan said the proposal should be put to a referendum
at the upcoming November state election.

"People have strong views on daylight saving and I would be reluctant to change the
current arrangements without getting a proper indication from the community as to the
level of support," Mr Ryan said in a statement.

Mr Ryan said he would oppose any changes if it meant Victoria had a different system to NSW.

"Given the large number of border communities along the Murray it would be ridiculous
if we had a different system to New South Wales," he said.

AAP nl/gfr/goc/ks/sd

KEYWORD: DAYLIGHT

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