Annastacia Palaszczuk refuses to release secret taxpayer-funded polling
A former judge has condemned Annastacia Palaszczuk’s ‘disgraceful’ refusal to release results of a $393,000 taxpayer- funded opinion polling program.
A former judge has condemned Annastacia Palaszczuk’s “disgraceful” refusal to release results of a $393,000 taxpayer-funded opinion polling program her government is using to shape election policy and messaging.
The Australian on Tuesday revealed the Queensland Premier’s department had ordered a 66-week-long opinion polling project in the lead-up to October’s state election.
Heavily redacted documents, obtained under Right to Information laws, showed the government was receiving “waves” of focus group research every six weeks.
Ms Palaszczuk’s department has refused to reveal what specific questions were being asked, which topics were being canvassed or findings from the research.
Centre for Public Integrity chair Anthony Whealy KC, a former judge and assistant commissioner to the NSW corruption watchdog, said it was clear the polling had been commissioned for political gain. “There is not the slightest doubt – that is what it is being done for and that is why they don’t want to reveal the outcome of it,” he said.
“It is really disgraceful. It is black and white, it’s a complete undermining of public integrity.
“This secrecy, I think it’s indefensible and the public is entitled to know the outcome of this polling and what it is really about.”
The ability to use taxpayer money to fund polling on voter perceptions is a major advantage for incumbent governments in election campaigns, allowing them to shape policy and assess talking points before they are implemented.
Transparency International Australia chief executive Clancy Moore said polling results should be made public immediately.
“With an election around the corner, it does appear this public-funded polling of people’s views on government policies could be for political purposes and a potential misuse of public money,” he said. “For a healthy democracy, we need government to lead with integrity and transparency and not exploit the power of incumbency for their own political advantage.”
During question time on Tuesday, Ms Palaszczuk said it was “not uncommon for states and the federal government to undertake such surveys”.
“We know that cost of living is a big issue,” she said. “Not only do we hear that from people but (polling) also enables us to make sure the most vulnerable are getting the most need in relation to cost-of-living relief.”
LNP leader David Crisafulli accused Ms Palaszczuk of spending “hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to save her job”.
“Why do we have a government so focused on its own survival rather than what is being experienced in Queenslanders’ lives.
“Queenslanders are living a health crisis, a youth crime crisis, a cost-of-living crisis and a housing crisis.”
Documents obtained by The Australian show voters are being polled on “a range of issues facing everyday Queenslanders”, with research used to identify concerns about future policy direction.
Public views on the government’s community objectives – “good jobs, better services and great lifestyle” – are also being examined.
Findings from the first five waves of research – completed between May and October – are being kept secret because they have gone to cabinet and are bound by strict confidentiality rules.
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