The petition was successful, attracting 6000 signatures. I do understand why people thought it was "better to have one month off, than nothing".

And now, nothing is how many of our members will now feel, for all of the years we have supported the National Party. For example - on September 9, 2015, in a speech to Parliament, Adam Marshall MP stated: "All we are asking, is that Daylight Saving be shortened by one month at the beginning, and one month at the end, and for common sense to prevail.”

This is not acceptable, as press releases from Adam Marshall and other members of the NSW National Party have indicated a reduction from six months back to four months – the original time frame on the ballot paper Daylight Saving (Referendum) Act 1976 for DLS to be advanced by one hour commencing on the last Sunday in October each year, and ending on the first Sunday in March the following year.

People were asked to vote Yes or No in the square opposite of the question, with no mention of giving politicians permission to extend DLS.

While Mr Marshall is to be commended for at least trying to shorten DLS, I now question why, why, why accept Inverell resident Denise Traviers' petition, which has been tabled in Parliament, if you had no intention of using it? I reference the NDL April 18, 2015. Mrs Traviers' stand came “Hot on the Heels of Adam Marshall and Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson declaring they were up to the fight to turn the clocks back and forward later – and take the issue back to the people on December 2, 2015”.

Geoff Provest confirmed a draft Bill which proposed to reduce DLS by four weeks, one week at the start in October and three weeks at the end in February. He was joined by fellow Nationals MP Adam Marshall armed with 3000 signatures on the petition to reduce DLS to four months not five.

The petition to reduce daylight saving in NSW to four months was signed twice by MP Adam Marshall on August 7, 2015. There are more than 500 signatures contained on this petition (approx 3190 final count).

Leader of the National Party, Troy Grant, tabled and signed “Judy O'Brien’s (Parkes) Petition for Referendum” (951 signatures) on November 11, 2014 to abolish DLS.

I have known, respected and admired MP Adam Marshall for the last 16 years, and will continue to do so even on the issue of DLS. I now realise he must have believed that DLS was to be reduced to four months. Prior to 2011 we wanted a four-year trial without DLS or a referendum, then an inquiry into the advantages and disadvantages of DLS. This was supported by the Gunnedah, Inverell and Tenterfield shire councils.

When Adam Marshall was mayor of Gunnedah in September 2009, I wrote to him, in which I stated: “It is my firm belief that if it is your will to become a Member of Parliament, you will have the ability to do so. I also believe you will represent all of the people and listen to their concern.” I requested he bring our concerns to the Shires Association and Members of Parliament.

Prior to the March 2011 election, Former Leader of the National Party, Andrew Stoner, announced he would fly the DLS up the flag pole for it to be shortened from six months to four months, having crossed the floor to vote against the proposed six months of DLS in 2007.

In 2011 before the March State Election, we felt he betrayed us. Then Andrew Stoner crossed the border into Queensland to extend DLS for the entire year.

It is not my intention to condemn the National Party, as it has been very evident for many years that present and past premiers of the Liberal Party have not given the National Party the respect or power to represent their electorates. 

This year marks 20 years of endless petitions, submissions, letters to the editor, and letters to Members of the National Party – the only political party to oppose any extensions to DLS. In 1994, Wal Murray, MP for Barwon, lashed out at the plan to extend DLS by three weeks.

This proposal spotlighted tensions between the Coalition partners when Mr Murray stated to the then-Premier John Fahey to “forget all about”, bowing to the demands for an extension by southern state premiers, giving reasons that schoolchildren of country NSW would be subjected to extended DLS to satisfy the Australian Grand Prix. The fact that children would be “dragged out of bed in the dark to travel 80-100km by bus, for the sake of a car race”.

At this time, Former Deputy Premier Mr Murray stated “DLS was not the plaything of the Premiers, and it was about time senseless fiddling with time zones was put to bed”. Pointing to dissertation within the ranks Mr Murray said “I was of the opinion that we had a Coalition in NSW and it is about time the National Party was recognised by the Liberal Party as being part of it.”

In 1994, I consulted Wal Murray about the March extension of DLS. His response was: “Nothing will change until people stand up to the Premier of the day to protest.”

It appears that the Liberal Party is still in charge of the Daylight Saving issue, so nothing will change.