Having noted with interest the launch of the Daylight Saving for South East Queensland Party in 2008, I expected the new party to have candidates lined up for the possibility of an early Queensland State Election. As of Day Two of the campaign there are currently no candidates publicly listed as being ready to run.
The party is running with a single policy to “have Daylight Saving Time (DST) introduced into the South East Queensland region” and frames itself as a political and peer pressure group, according to its Facebook Group.
The party’s website has not been updated since the election was called on the 23rd of February. A check of the Facebook Group reveals a Wall post on the 24th of February from the group’s Marketing and Communications man, Simon Kenworthy-Dell, in which he states that:
“DS4SEQ will be putting candidates into as many electoral areas as possible…if you can stand as a candidate please contact: andrew.bradbury@ds4seq.org.au“.
It will cost candidates $250 to run, a cost which will be re-couped if the candidate gets over 4% of the vote in his/her seat. Candidates will receive promotional t-shirts and flyers to help spread the word.
According to the Electoral Commission Queensland Guide for Candidates, nominations must close no later than 18 days after the Writ for the election has been issued. Nominations may close as soon as 8 days after the Writ is issued. Whatever the cut-off date that has been specified for this election, the DS4SEQ party does not have long to rally the troops and begin to raise its profile in time to garner some votes on election day.
I understand that the goal of the party is not so much to attempt to win seats but rather to raise awareness of their platform, assumedly with the hope of influencing the options put forward in any possible referendum that might be held in Queensland on the issue of daylight saving. However, it would surely be in DS4SEQ’s best interests to finalise their candidates as soon as possible?
I will keep tabs on this and post updates as they arise. In the meantime, let us know your thoughts on fielding candidates this close to an election in the comments below.
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