22 February 2006 
 
Loss of business opportunities and communication difficulties are among the many negative impacts, that the three-hour time difference between WA and the east coast of Australia is having on local businesses and the general public. The impacts were raised in two new surveys released by The Institute of Chartered Accountants, Western Australian Branch and have led to the Institute calling on the Carpenter Government for the introduction of daylight savings in WA.  
 
The Institute survey of more than 650 local business people revealed that 86% of those surveyed were in favour of the State adopting daylight saving to prevent a three-hour time difference with the eastern states. 
 
Institute WA General Manager, Con Abbott, says the survey highlighted that 85% of respondents believed that the three-hour time difference negatively impacted on business activities, citing that communication difficulties was viewed as the most pressing reason to make the switch for business. 
 
A further 50% of respondents believed that the extent of the impact was ‘moderate to adverse in nature’ with areas of impact including lost business opportunities, the cost and time of travel, lost productivity and increased banking difficulties. 
 
“The economic good of the State along with improving business efficiency need to be the State Government’s priority when considering the issue of daylight saving,” Mr Abbott said. 
 
“Anything that makes doing business harder in Western Australia needs to be examined. 
 
“The overwhelming response to the survey, by business professionals, is that daylight savings is impacting on their, clients and employer’s organisations in a negative way,” he said. 
 
The Institute has also conducted a survey of Western Australians and found that the general community would also welcome the move. More than 400 people were asked if they were in favour or against introducing daylight saving during summer in WA. 
 
The survey found that 66% of people were in favour of the change with the majority of those surveyed (52%) strongly supporting the move. This compared to just 27% who were opposed. 
 
Mr Abbott said with both the business and general community supportive of the move it is hard to understand any resistance to the idea. WA and Queensland are the only states not to adopt daylight saving and the local impact was particularly frustrating to business with most commercial and Commonwealth Government head offices orientated to the east coast time zone. 
 
“This is a win – win situation for the business community, general public and government bodies,” he said. 
 
* The Institute of Chartered Accountants conducted the first Daylight Savings Survey in June 2005. More than 430 local Chartered Accountants were surveyed revealing that 89% supported the state adopting daylight savings to prevent a three-hour time difference with the eastern states. Also 300 WA residents were surveyed and it was found that 65% of people were in favour a majority of them 53% strongly in support of the move. This compared to just 18% who were strongly against.