Polling – Tarkine Rainforest Clearing

Media release – Bob Brown Foundation, 6 June 2021

Poll shows 4:1 want Tarkine forest saved

A national opinion poll commissioned by the Australia Institute, and published today by the Bob Brown Foundation, shows a large majority of Australians will back Environment Minister Sussan Ley if she insists miner MMG uses an alternative site to the Tarkine rainforest for its next toxic tailings dam in northwest Tasmania.

The poll (see below) indicates that a 4:1 majority, including a 4:1 majority of Coalition voters, will back the minister if she saves the forest. Separate results for Tasmania were not provided due to the small sample from the state which has less than 3% of Australia’s population.

Minister Ley is due to make her critical decision by this Tuesday, 8 June, 2021. Yesterday saw a large indoor rally in Hobart opposing the toxic tailings dam site. In the last fortnight, there have been 15 arrests of peaceful protesters blockading the Chinese state-owned MMG’s machinery in the rainforest north of the Pieman River.

“It’s is must-do for the minister as this is habitat for nationally-listed species vulnerable to extinction including Tasmanian devils, quolls, giant wedge-tailed eagles and owls. The campaign to save this rainforest will grow rapidly if minister Ley fails to act,” Bob Brown said today.

Polling – Tarkine rainforest clearing  June 2021 

Key results 

The Australia Institute surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1,001  Australians. Respondents were asked about whether the Minister for the Environment  should intervene in mining company MMG’s use of the Tarkine rainforest.  

MMG is clearing a section of Tasmania’s Tarkine rainforest to build a tailings dam for  its Rosebery zinc, copper and lead mine. Tailings dams store by-products from mining,  which are usually toxic. The company says there are alternative sites for the dam.  

The results show that  

• Two in three (65%) Australians support the Minister for the Environment using  her power to stop the rainforest clearing and insist MMG use one of its  alternative sites, including one in three (35%) Australians that strongly support.
• Less than one in five (17%) Australians oppose the Minister stepping in to stop  rainforest clearing and insist MMG use an alternative site.  

• Greens (70%) and Labor (69%) voters are the most likely to support the  Minister for the Environment using her power to stop rainforest clearing and  insist MMG use one of its alternative sites.  

o One in six (16%) Coalition, Labor and Greens voters oppose. 

o An equal number of One Nation (40%) voters support as oppose.

o Independent/Other (14%) voters are the least likely to oppose the  Minister intervening in this way.  

Method 

The Australia Institute surveyed 1,001 people on 2-4 June 2021, online through  Dynata’s Rapid Results polling, with nationally representative samples by gender, age and region.  

The margin of error (95% confidence level) for the national results is 3%.  Results are shown only for larger states. 

Voting crosstabs show voting intentions for the House of Representatives. Those who  were undecided were asked which way they were leaning; these leanings are included  in voting intention crosstabs. “Coalition” includes separate responses for Liberal and  National. “Other” refers to Independent/Other.

Polling – Tarkine rainforest clearing 3 

Detailed results 

The mining company MMG is clearing a section of Tasmania’s Tarkine rainforest to  build a tailings dam for its Rosebery zinc, copper and lead mine. Tailings dams store  by-products from mining, which are toxic. The company says there are alternative  sites for the dam.

Would you support or oppose Federal Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley using  her power to stop the rainforest clearing and insist MMG use one of its alternative  sites?