Galaxy polling commissioned by the Australian Bankers’ Association finds opposition to new cash grab in key seats held by independent ministers

FRESH marginal seat polling, that includes the key electorates held by two independent ministers propping up Premier Jay Weatherill’s government, has found strong opposition to the state bank tax.

Voters in the seats of Labor Government ministers Martin Hamilton-Smith and Geoff Brock are opposed to the tax.

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FRESH marginal seat polling of electorates, including two held by independent ministers who are propping up the Labor State Government, have found strong opposition to the state bank tax.

The Galaxy poll of 2100 people in seven marginal seats has found 52 per cent of people across the key electorates are opposed to the state bank tax, with just 34 per cent in favour.

It was conducted over the past week and follows similar polling in another clutch of marginals that will decide the election outcome in March which also found the tax to be unpopular.

The study was commissioned by the Australian Bankers’ Association, which is running a multimillion-dollar campaign over the SA tax amid fears of “contagion” to other states.

Former Liberal leader Martin Hamilton-Smith plans to run again in his foothills seat of Waite, having switched sides after the 2014 election to become a minister in the Labor Cabinet.

The Galaxy poll finds 52 per cent of people in his seat opposed to the tax, and 41 per cent for.

Regional Development Minister Geoff Brock’s seat of Frome, based around Port Pirie, delivered a result of 50 per cent against the tax and 31 per cent in favour.

Labor seats polled include Transport and Infrastructure Minister Stephen Mullighan’s western suburbs seat of Lee, which delivered a result of 51 per cent of respondents against the tax and 32 per cent in favour.

Voters in independent MP Frances Bedford’s northeastern suburbs seat of Florey were opposed by a margin of 50-35.

In the Labor-held seat of Giles, around Whyalla, opponents of the tax outnumbered supporters 52-33 and the Liberal seat of Morialta is 50-38 against the policy.

The strongest opposition among the seven seats polled was found in the knife-edge seat of Newland, around Tea Tree Gully and held by Labor whip Tom Kenyon, at a rate of 56-29.

Australian Bankers’ Association chief executive Anna Bligh said it was clear that a large number of people believed there would be fewer jobs in the state if the tax were allowed to stand.

“This bank tax poll should act as a wake-up call for the SA Government,” she said.

“People do not want the SA Government to proceed with this ill-conceived plan.

“Voters are rightly concerned that this tax will negatively affect employment and make the state less competitive at a time when SA desperately needs jobs, investment and growth.”

Debate on the tax is expected to resume in State Parliament on Thursday.

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