LNP denies Brisbane push poll claims

The LNP is “push polling’’ voters ahead of Saturday’s federal election, including in the Brisbane seat of Ryan, opponents say.

The LNP has been accused of sending voters automated push poll phone messages. Picture: iStock

The LNP is “push polling’’ voters ahead of Saturday’s federal election, including in the Brisbane seat of Ryan, an opponent says.

A longtime resident of Taringa, in Brisbane’s inner-west, also said he was disgusted at the “robocall’’ he received last week.

Labor candidate for Ryan, Peter Cossar, said he had ironically also received one of the calls which he said was “without doubt’’ a push poll.

A push poll is a fake survey designed to scare recipients about real or made-up policies of a political party.

But a spokesman for LNP Ryan candidate Julian Simmonds denied they had engaged in the practice.

“The LNP does not conduct push polling, but we cannot say the same for the unions or GetUp,” a spokesman for Mr Simmonds’ campaign said.

Federal election candidate for the seat of Ryan, Julian Simmonds. Picture: AAP/Richard Walker

Some voters in key marginal seats, particularly Dickson on Brisbane’s northside, have told Westside News and The Courier-Mail that they no longer answer calls where no number shows up because they had received so many unsolicited robocalls from both major parties.

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Both Mr Cossar and the resident, David, said the automated messages told respondents Labor was planning to target people with a retiree tax, would raise taxes and increase spending.

It then asked them if they would be more or less likely to vote for Labor, the LNP or the Greens.

It then told respondents the Morrison Government would lower taxes and rein in spending and then asked if they were now more or less likely to vote for particular parties.

The last half of the approximately 20 questions related to Mr Simmonds and told respondents about a range of things he would do for them, including spending on schools and local roads.

Respondents were then asked if they would be more or less likely to vote for one of the three major parties contesting Ryan.

“It’s definitely a push poll,’’ Mr Cossar said.

“It totally misquotes our policies and then asks people how they would be likely to vote.

“I’ve lived here (in Ryan) for 20 years and I’ve had robocalls before but this is a very different thing.’’

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Labor’s Ryan candidate, Peter Cossar.

Mr Cossar said his campaign team would not be making robocalls or conducting push polls “as far as I know of’’.

He said such decisions were made by party headquarters but he had not been made aware of any move to do that.

Greens candidate for Ryan, Jake Schoermer, said a Labor volunteer had also told him they had received what they believed to be a push poll.

“Political parties, candidates and campaigns should be transparent with electors as to who they are representing and why they are calling,” Mr Schoermer said.

“If the LNP are calling voters in Ryan, then voters should be told at the beginning of the call so that they can evaluate statements made in that light.”

“This is the kind of behaviour that has so damaged faith in politics.

Jake Schoermer, The Greens candidate for Ryan.

“Instead we should be cleaning up politics by banning corporate donations, introducing a federal anti-corruption watchdog and banning politicians and senior staff from taking up cushy lobbyist jobs after leaving parliament.”

The Taringa resident, who did not want his last name used, said he had lived in the suburb for 30 years and never before received robocalls or push polls.

“I got the first one last Thursday and answered it because I believe in surveys,’’ he said.

“It’s a massive political campaign posing as a survey.

“A lot of it was just a scare campaign against Labor — I think it’s just such unethical behaviour.’’

David said he contacted the Australian Electoral Commission but they had not, to date, responded to his complaint.