Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds accuses EMRS of ‘publicity stunt’ over Hobart phone poll
A bitter stoush has erupted between Hobart’s Lord Mayor and a leading pollster. Find out why they are both fuming.
Tasmania
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A stoush has erupted between Hobart’s Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds and a leading polling and research company over a telephone poll asking people whether the Hobart City Council should be placed in administration.
Ms Reynolds has accused EMRS of “a publicity stunt” and “push polling” in its polling after it disagreed with a recent council decision.
EMRS director Brad Stansfield has fired back saying “unfounded accusations” of push-polling are “wrong”.
Push polling is a negative political campaigning technique used to influence voters by asking specific questions to sway their views.
The poll on Hobart has prompted debate on social media with some suggesting it is being conducted because EMRS oppose changes to bicycle lanes in Collins St.
Ms Reynolds wrote to EMRS on November 7 asking about “the intent and context of this question within your polling activities” but says she has had no response.
She said that placing a council in administration usually followed an inquiry and was “a serious business involving the removal of the community’s chosen representatives”.
“It is a measure under the Local Government Act reserved for cases of serious non-compliance with the Act and following a Board of Inquiry process,” Ms Reynolds said.
“It should not be used as a publicity stunt for companies or individuals who disagree with Council on particular projects.
“I’d be very concerned if this kind of ‘push polling’ is trying to imply that a disagreement over a city project is a reason to sack a democratically elected Council.
“That would be a very low point in our civic dialogue if polling of this kind was being used by interests to smear an entire organisation.”
Mr Stansfield said anyone could ask EMRS to conduct work for them and Ms Reynolds’ criticism was “grossly inappropriate”.
“It is grossly inappropriate that the Lord Mayor has chosen to publicly criticise a respected Tasmanian business simply because she apparently doesn’t like some questions it may or may not be asking,” he said.
“Anyone, including Hobart City Council, is able to commission EMRS to undertake work, and that work remains between EMRS, and its clients – as you would expect.
“The unfounded accusations of push-polling are particularly disappointing, and are wrong.
“EMRS is not a ratepayer of Hobart as it is based in Glenorchy, but with such public criticism like this from the Lord Mayor, I can understand why many Hobart-based businesses feel that the Hobart City Council is not their friend.”
The council’s decision to take away several parking spots in Collins St for a cycleway has been criticised by some ratepayers and businesses.
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Originally published as Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds accuses EMRS of ‘publicity stunt’ over Hobart phone poll
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