TRAC DEMANDS HONESTY OVER NEW POLL
The Tamar Residents Action Committee has called on the state government and timber company Gunns Ltd to declare whether they’re behind a public opinion poll on the proposed $1.5 billion pulp mill planned for Longreach on the Tamar River.
The Hobart based polling company EMRS is conducting a telephone poll of Launceston and the Tamar Valley residents asking a series of questions regarding their attitudes towards the pulp mill.
TRAC coordinator Mr.Les Rochester said one of the first questions asked of residents was to rate whether Gunns Ltd is a good corporate citizen and to score them out of ten.
Another question asks where did people think the best and most reliable information about the pulp mill is coming from, and gives four choices :-
: Gunns Ltd :The Government :The Wilderness Society or TRAC.
Mr Rochester said it was gratifying that TRAC’s extensive factual information, gathered and disseminated with almost no financial outlay, was seen as a threat to the information from the lavish funds of the pulp mill task force.
“Why would such a costly survey be carried out by the government, if it wasn’t worried about the electoral backlash that it faces at the next state election.
“They keep telling Tasmanians that 95% of the population is in favour of the proposed pulp mill, but this poll looks like they aren’t really sure.” Mr.Rochester said.
“Everything points to the government undertaking the poll, because Gunns Ltd would have no interest in what the population thinks of them.
“But even for a legitimate poll, some of the questions are very loaded, such as ‘
Are you in favour of a world class environmentally friendly pulp mill’.
“Most people would answer yes, but that doesn’t mean they are in support of what we are now being offered.” Mr. Rochester said.
http://www.tamar-trac.com/
