Having Daylight Savings in Western Australia is:

[Invictus]

Time is a very personal thing. People should make there own arrangements WRT how they organise their day and not try to foist their preferred solution on the rest of us. My 20 cents (inflation, you know).

[WF2006]

It's irrelevant whether you are obligated or not. There are thousands of people out there who don't know voting is obligatory or don't care. We still need their vote.The people that do vote are generally well informed, responsible and appreciate the significance of voting. So you end up with a hugely flawed voting system. The result does not reflect what the average Western Australian thinks, it reflects what the average voting Western Australian thinks, which is very different. We pay politicians lots of money to make decisions for us we don't need referendums, especially when it is so flawed, exemplified by late night trading getting knocked back.

Well here are the actual facts
http://www.waec.wa.gov.au/elections/...ng_referendum/

Now effectively 85% of those enrolled did vote leaving 197,351 that didn't, meaning that more than 77% of the "uninformed" would have to vote Yes to turn the tables.
Based on the fact that the lowest attendances are in the Northern part of the state, I think you'd STILL have buckleys.

Basically in reading your statement it seems to imply that the average Western Australia isn't well informed or responsible and you'd rather the "others" made the decision?

BTW - I voted yes.

[The InnFORCEr]

To understand the arguments you need to understand the geographic implications.
For ease Australia is only in three major timezones however it actual geographically covers five. The main reason that the East have it is that their population centre is along the coast, which means they are actually in a different timezone to say Dubbo or Wagga Wagga. They do run out of "daylight". If you go to Brisbane in summer the sun is going down somewhere between 6-7pm from memory.
Now on the flip side, on the West coast we are so far west that we should also be in another timezone compared to Kalgoorlie-Port Hedland eastward. The sun goes down at Geraldton 20 minutes after it does at Meekatharra. So, when the east move to daylight saving they are only actually getting what we already have, being on the west side of our timezone we already have daylight savings all year.
I would argue that a better method would be to move the clocks back in winter so that there is some evening light then.

So in a nutshell, you actually want daylight savings hey Burgs

[zed]

Basically in reading your statement it seems to imply that the average Western Australia isn't well informed or responsible and you'd rather the "others" made the decision?

Well yes. Look at the farcical referendum for extended trading hours, it was knocked back! Luckily the government had the sense to step in and do something about it. What was the point in having the referendum in the first place?? What I find irritating is how "me, me, me" these referendums are. Rather than voting for what is good for the state or for most people, people vote for what THEY want. I couldn't give two shits about extended trading hours, I don't need them, but I recognise that many others do, hence the reason I voted for extended trading hours. I fully expect the state government to go ahead with a DLS plan in the next 5 years without a referendum. As the extended trading hours referendum has exemplified - we cannot be trusted to make smart, selfless choices.

[Happy]

What was the point in having the referendum in the first place??

first rule of politics Zed - you only hold a referendum if you know what the result will be!

[GIGS20]

What I find irritating is how "me, me, me" these referendums are. Rather than voting for what is good for the state or for most people, people vote for what THEY want.

I'm confused, If most people vote for what's good for them how exactly does the referendum not represent what is good for most people?

If democracy works then everybody votes for what they want and the majority wins!

[zed]

I'm confused, If most people vote for what's good for them how exactly does the referendum not represent what is good for most people?

If democracy works then everybody votes for what they want and the majority wins!

Just because it's good for them doesn't mean it's good for the general population and people should be able to recognise that. On the surface of it I'd quite happily vote for 24 hour drinking, but I understand the social issues that would arise from it adversely affecting other people. It's not just about what you want.

[The InnFORCEr]

Are you telling me we're not allowed to drink 24 hours a day, why the bloody hel is there 24 cans in a carton???

[normie]

Just because it's good for them doesn't mean it's good for the general population and people should be able to recognise that. On the surface of it I'd quite happily vote for 24 hour drinking, but I understand the social issues that would arise from it adversely affecting other people. It's not just about what you want.

Like being able to go and have a drink when you knock off work at 0530 in the morning.... Severe social issues like shiftworkers being able to socialise after work.

[Darren]

dead right B&B

I should rename this thread to 'work choices'...

[Happy]

If democracy works then everybody votes for what they want and the majority wins!

Democracy doesn't work, but it's the best one we've come up with so far...

[Happy]

Are you telling me we're not allowed to drink 24 hours a day, why the bloody hel is there 24 cans in a carton???

coincidence!!

[GIGS20]

Just because it's good for them doesn't mean it's good for the general population and people should be able to recognise that. On the surface of it I'd quite happily vote for 24 hour drinking, but I understand the social issues that would arise from it adversely affecting other people. It's not just about what you want.

Well I would assume that you will take all those factors into account when you vote on 24 hour drinking, It sounds like you would vote no.

If the majority of the populace isn't concerned with the wider social issues of 24 hour drinking would we not be better served by allowing it?

I think I'm trying to say that the system is fine, it's the population not thinking deeply about their vote that you are complaining about. We can't stop people being dumb, and dictatorships (even benevolent ones) are a little unfashionable at the moment. We could become a theocracy and have a defined set of religious laws by which we abide, but somehow I don't think Sharia law will make it into our constitution either.

I say keep the referendum, let the people suffer with what they choose, If it's plainly dumb, the current electoral system allows a political party to run for office with reversing the result as a campaign promise...hey presto, if they get in they have a mandate to attempt to reverse the result with another referendum.

I don't see the problem (but them I'm anti-daylight saving)

[shasta]

dictatorships (even benevolent ones) are a little unfashionable .........

I don't see the problem (but them I'm anti-daylight saving

Then perhaps you should reconsider your position on dictators. The majority lf them , with the notable exceptions of Iran and Syria, don't have DLS. Ergo they are not as dumb as their would-be voters. I think.

[GIGS20]

The position on DLS was unquestioned Shasta, I was thinking more of the human rights abuses.

I'm sure the various nations run like clockwork as long as you don't criticize the president