Friday, 11 November 2016
TIME is running out for those who want to sign a statewide petition to help wind back daylight saving by a month, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall said today.
The deadline for those who want to support the Private Member’s Bill aimed at ending the daylight saving period earlier is November 30 and Mr Marshall is encouraging those wanting to back his petition to get in now.
Mr Marshall said a Bill was introduced into State Parliament recently and has been backed by a number of his state colleagues, after widespread support from people across regional areas of NSW and protests about the length of daylight saving.
Mr Marshall said the petition needs as many signatories as they can muster to show a countrywide support for the move and trigger a debate in the Legislative Assembly.
The Standard Time Amendment (Daylight Saving Period Reduction) Bill – was introduced in the State’s Upper House in September by Mr Marshall’s colleague Trevor Khan.
If successful, the legislation would bring the end of daylight saving forward one month, from the first Sunday in April to the first Sunday in March each year.
“The petition is designed to demonstrate to city MPs the strength of that support and so while a typical petition would aim for 10,000 signatures to trigger debate, with this one we’re aiming to get as many names as we can to show the extent of support and promote the bill in parliament,” Mr Marshall said.
“We need to show city people that we have widespread support for this bill. We want to show people in the city that this is not a stunt. This is not a joke. This is a serious issue for people in the bush.
“It’s not about ending daylight saving, which is a passionate subject for many people. This is purely about ending it just one month earlier. Across country NSW many people agree that the last month is just a pain; it drags on too long.
“Already we have seen some solid support for the bill but for those residents, particularly across the northern parts of my electorate along border areas where the protest is strongest, who haven’t signed yet, time is running out and they should get in before the deadline to make a difference.”
Petitions are available at Mr Marshall’s electorate offices in Armidale (6772 5552) and Moree (6752 5002) and from every local council across the Northern Tablelands. As well, individuals can obtain petition forms from Mr Marshall if they want to back the clock turnback.