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Queensland daylight saving looks dead according to Premier Bligh, despite majority support

A split daylight saving time zone for southeast Queensland is unlikely, with Premier Anna Bligh declaring there is no momentum for change.

Ms Bligh on Thursday released the results of an online survey of more than 74,000 people, canvassing support for daylight saving in the southeast corner only.

The survey was taken after independent MP Peter Wellington introduced a private member's bill in parliament proposing a referendum on the issue at the next election.

Across the state, 63 per cent of people were in favour of a referendum, while 35 per cent were against.

A total of 64 per cent backed a trial of daylight saving in the southeast before the referendum, with 34 per cent opposed.

When broken down into regions, 67 per cent of people in southeast Queensland were in favour of a referendum, while 55 per cent of those outside the southeast were opposed.

Three-quarters of those outside the southeast were opposed to a trial, while 70 per cent of people in the southeast wanted one.

In surveys by Labor MPs, 56 per cent of southeast Queenslanders were opposed to having a referendum and 51 per cent were against a trial.

Regional MPs found more than 85 per cent of their constituents were against the idea.

Ms Bligh said she was surprised such a significant divide between country and city continued.

"I thought that regional Queensland would be more relaxed about daylight saving if it was restricted to the southeast corner," she told reporters.

"Unfortunately, that does not seem to be the case....

"Given this, I can't see any momentum for change."

Ms Bligh said the results showed attitudes were no different now than when the issue was last considered three years ago.

But she denied the exercise had been a waste of time as residents had never before been questioned on a split time zone.

"In order to spend public money on a referendum, I've got to have confidence that there is any real prospect of that referendum at least being close," she said.

The Labor caucus will vote on the government's position on Monday before indicating its position.

"All I'm saying is that on the basis of this data today, I can't see any overwhelming momentum to change the Labor Party's previous position and we'll wait and see," Ms Bligh said.

The Liberal National Party (LNP) has already said it will not support the bill, which is due to be voted upon later in the year.

Daylight Saving for South-East Queensland Party spokesman Jason Furze said there was momentum for change.

"The people of southeast Queensland have been very loud and they would like a trial of daylight saving," he said.

Mr Furze said the model took into consideration regional Queenslanders by leaving them on standard time.

The only way to put the issue to bed properly was to have a referendum, he said.

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