Testing times for daylight saving in Queensland

ANNA Bligh has conceded summer time may not work for Queensland's southeast, as farmers and her own Labor MPs from the state's north and west voiced concern about a proposal for zoned daylight saving.

The Premier yesterday called in government MPs to set the ball rolling on a process that seems set to lead to a trial of daylight saving in Brisbane, the Gold and Sunshine coasts and their respective hinterlands next summer, followed by a referendum on whether the change should be made permanent.

While early feedback on talkback radio and the internet showed the proposal had strong support in the Queensland capital -- reflecting the last referendum on daylight saving in 1992, which was carried in Brisbane but lost on the statewide vote -- Ms Bligh conceded that split summer time would be a challenge. "I think it's got some serious implementation issues that would need to be addressed, but I didn't want to bind my caucus to vote against a bill that gives people a say on an issue they continue to raise," she said.

Ms Bligh said she expected the Labor caucus to debate the issue in June, and that she had not yet decided whether the party would take a united position on the private member's legislation presented this week by independent MP Peter Wellington, or allow a conscience vote.

Ms Bligh faced criticism yesterday that her backflip on countenancing daylight saving, which she had previously ruled out, was a bid to distract attention from a payroll bungle affecting the state's health workers.

Farmers lobby AgForce said Ms Bligh's move breached an undertaking before the state election that summer time was off her agenda.

Labor MPs from north Queensland, including Cairns-based minister Desley Boyle and cabinet colleague Craig Wallace, of Townsville, said the proposal would not work outside greater Brisbane.

But Kate Thomas, 28, of Macgregor on Brisbane's southside, said she and her son Zac, 2, would enjoy the extra hour of daylight in summer.

"It would be nice for a little boy to be able to stay outside a bit longer without the mozzies and the dark," she said.

Local Government Association chief Greg Hallam said he was opposed to statewide daylight saving but had an open mind on the split option for the southeast. He said the sticking point would be boundaries, which could be drawn on the lines of longitude and latitude, or on the local government boundaries outside Brisbane.