Just over two weeks ago, several Australian states turned their clocks forward by one hour for the country’s annual daylight savings ritual; a ritual that Queensland said goodbye to a couple of decades ago.
 
What is daylight savings all about and how did it start? Tasmania first introduced daylight saving in 1968 to utilise more natural light and thus effectively reduce power bills. (Seems fairly logical?) Soon thereafter, in1971, the remainder of Australia followed suit.
 
Before long, Australians were soon falling in love with the tradition that allowed them to extend the daylight hours and really take advantage of the summer months. However, not all states remained on board with the annual routine and later Northern Territory, Western Australia and, of course, Queensland decided it was time to march to the beat of their own drum.
 
That’s right, 22 years ago Queensland rejected the move to daylight saving. The state’s strong case against the change being due to the fact the state is hot, sub-tropical and its seasonal daylight patterns are consistent anyway.
 
Since this time Queensland has come under continued scrutiny and pressure to join daylight saving so it can be in sync with the rest of the eastern seaboard… with much of this pressure coming from the business sector.
 
When it comes to the business sector, including the real estate market, there are many arguments against Queensland’s decision. For example, some dispute that Queensland being on a different time zone to the rest of Australia’s eastern states makes it confusing and difficult for interstate buyers and sellers? Thus, one might argue… are we possibly missing out on lost opportunities because of our interstate counterparts failing to meet contract deadlines?
 
Let’s bring it even closer to home... real estate or not… surely having that extra hour in the morning makes a difference to the day? What do you think? Did Queensland make the right move… are we better off without daylight saving or should we join the rest of the eastern seaboard and wind our clocks forward?