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SA time zone change proposal: Government receives hundreds of submissions

A proposal to change South Australia's time zone has been supported by the business community, but has raised concerns for regional residents.

Last month, the State Government put forward a proposal to shift South Australian time zones either to match the eastern dates, or move closer towards Western Australia's time zone.

SA Premier Jay Weatherill said the half-hour time difference between the eastern states, and the 90-minute difference with Western Australia, could cause "confusion across the spectrum of our daily lives".

Initial public consultation has shown business and free-to-air television stations support a change, while west coast residents have expressed concern about a change to morning daylight hours for school children.

Investment and Trade Minister Martin Hamilton-Smith said the Government had been inundated with hundreds of submissions.

"This consultation process has highlighted the wide range of issues that are affected by the notion of time from sporting fixtures to public service administration and business transactions," he said.

"The Restaurant and Catering Association, which represents 2,000 restaurants, cafes and caterers, highlighted that a change to Australian eastern standard time would provide surety to tourists, recreational and business travellers when planning itineraries and events.

"South Australia's commercial television networks have also provided a joint submission to support aligning with the eastern states, which highlighted the benefits of up to the minute national news and current affairs, and live social media interaction with popular programs.

"The State Government acknowledges that other members of the public may be concerned about how a change would affect them depending on where they live and work and the lifestyle they prefer to lead – that is why we are encouraging anyone with a view to submit it."

Minister to tour regional areas for consultation

Mr Hamilton-Smith said he would be visiting the state's country areas as part of the consultation process in the coming weeks.

"I'll be certainly be getting out to the west coast and other parts of regional South Australia to talk to country communities as well getting around the city," he said.

"This is an issue that will affect everybody - it's a real issue."

Mr Hamilton-Smith asked South Australians to keep an open mind about the issue.

"Everybody has a point of view and we need to understand how a change either towards eastern standard time or towards Western Australia will affect people in their daily lives and I think that's why we're having this two month process of initial consultation."

There is still another month of public consultation to go on the proposal.