QUEENSLAND'S lack of daylight saving is costing the economy an estimated $4 billion a year amid a bold new campaign for a fresh trial of summer time.

The biggest-ever survey of businesses revealed that more than a quarter of companies across Queensland are financially disadvantaged by the hour's difference between us and the rest of the eastern seaboard for six months every year.

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Tourism, commercial and industry leaders have thrown support behind a fresh push for the Newman Government to trial daylight saving and to hold a public referendum on the issue for the first time in 21 years.

An e-petition to the Queensland Parliament - seeking a public education campaign followed by a trial and then a public vote - has attracted nearly 10,000 signatures so far. Organisers are aiming for 100,000 by March.

You can sign the daylight saving e-petition here

The move comes as Victorian tourism operators are using our shorter daylight hours as a weapon to try to poach holiday-makers.

Travel guru and Flight Centre founder Graham "Skroo" Turner has rubbished the lack of summer time in our tourism hotspots.

The LNP Government remains adamant "daylight saving is not on the agenda''.

And Labor is adopting the same position.singing the same tune. "I think people in Queensland are quite happy with the status quo," Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk said.

The Commerce and Industry Queensland survey of 2300 companies found 57 per cent in favour of a one-year trial.

More than a quarter - rising to 40 per cent in SEQ - said the lack of daylight saving hit their bottom line.

Lost sales and productivity increased staffing and extra travel, and accommodation fees cost the state a massive $4.35 billion.

Australian Industry Group's state director Mark Goodsell said: "We need to find a way to fix this as it really does cost Queensland businesses.''

He said companies had an increasingly national focus, and the inconvenience and additional cost of being in a different time zone for half the year stopped some companies establishing their bases here.

Queensland Tourism Industry Council chief executive Daniel Gschwind said: "It's the community's view that should be respected - I think a referendum would help.

"The industry in the southern part of the state would enthusiastically welcome daylight saving, no doubt about that.''

Travel Victoria are using our shorter daylight hours to try to lure tourists south.

"If you're planning to get the first rays of the morning sun on Queensland's Gold Coast, you'll need to ensure you're up at the unearthly hour of 4.47am on December 21,'' mocks Travel Victoria's website. "However, you can almost forget that evening BBQ in the sun, with darkness falling from 6.42pm."

High-profile company bosses have also added their voices to the call for change.

Mr Turner said daylight saving was "essential'', especially for the southeast, and would make an "enormous difference".

A tale of two states

THE photographs above, taken at different locations this week, help to explain just why the daylight saving issue divides people so strongly.

The first light of day spread over Brisbane and the Gold and Sunshine coasts at 4.27am yesterday morning and residents were woken by a 4.53am dawn chorus.

But in the northwestern mining city of Mount Isa, it was another 70 minutes before the sky began to lighten and sunrise was not until 6.02am.

Many people are still out and about when the sun set at 6.45pm in the southeast corner last evening. The folk of the Isa had to wait until 7.25pm.

And local mayor Tony McGrady said there was plenty of relief when it did, bringing a close to another day of near 40C heat.

"The miners and cattle graziers and so on of regional Queensland create the wealth of this state and they deserve consideration. This is all about equality of lifestyle,'' he said.

A former Labor MP and minister, Cr McGrady said he was proud of the role he and former ALP deputy premier Tom Burns played in the campaign to block the introduction of daylight saving in the early 1990s.

His message to those pushing for it now: "If they want to bring it, let the battle begin.''

Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale is up for the fight, saying: "Let's just do it."

Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk is also in favour of a switch.

"If the debate becomes one where it is canvassed again ... I'll certainly be a proponent and supporter," he said.

Long-time campaigner Allan Clarke said people in SEQ should be allowed to go it alone.

The Mooloolaba man, who has lodged an e-petition with Parliament, said daylight saving should be trialled statewide and then regional Queenslanders given the chance to opt out.