Mister Brisbane: Living Daylight
DST makes sense if you live in the capital. And, within reason, in the regions
When I was a boy, I didn’t care much about the time on the clock. I was only ever aware of daylight saving time (DST) — or its absence in Queensland — when we holidayed on the Gold Coast and we were able to see some television shows twice.
During the school year, I woke up when my parents told me to and did the things I had to do.
I don’t remember the two DST trials we’ve had in my lifetime as being especially onerous. But I do remember the fun we had when the sun stayed up until 8pm — especially when we were at the beach.
Of course, it’s not all unicorns and rainbows. DST will cause some disruption if the trial suggested by Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner gets off the ground. But the benefits — both for business and for our quality of life — will outweigh the downside.
First of all, let’s put some of the furphies about DST to rest.
It won’t fade the curtains.
The weather will do what the weather’s going to do (although climate change is a separate issue, and we really need to be on top of that). What we people call the time of day doesn’t change anything in the natural world; it just helps us live our lives with a degree of order.
It won’t confuse the cows.
The cows will come up to be milked at the same time they always do. It’s just a different time on the farmer’s watch. An hour “lost” at the beginning of the day can be “regained” at the end.
It will require adjustments.
If people in the regions, especially in northern and western parts of the state find that it’s not working for them, for whatever reason, then they should have the freedom to adjust school and work hours to suit.
As for the bulk of Queenslanders in the southeast, what do we have to lose? Not much — except, perhaps, an hour of sleep on changeover day.
What will we gain?
Alignment with the two cities in Australia that are bigger than Brisbane, and the ability for businesses to run more smoothly. Remember how many people complained about border shutdowns during the COVID pandemic because it interrupted our relationship with the rest of Australia? Well, the absence of DST does that, albeit to a smaller extent, for half of every year.
More fun in the sun. Families can spend the twilight hours outdoors together. Take the dog for a walk, go for a swim or a hike or a cycle.
Less interrupted sleep. The sun won’t be blazing through the window as early as 4.30am the height of summer. It’ll be 5.30.
The simple good sense of being in the same time zone as Sydney and Melbourne. We won’t be changing their minds on the issue, so it’s up to us to fall in line.
An end to airline pilots’ puerile jokes about setting one’s clock back “one hour and 50 years” when entering Queensland.
This is the Sunshine State. Let’s take full advantage of the sun!
© 2022 Brett Debritz. Image: Adrian Schrinner/ Brisbane City Council. Usual disclaimers apply.