Support for CSG collapses: Queensland Newspoll

PUBLIC confidence in coal-seam gas development has collapsed in the sector's production heartland of Queensland.

PUBLIC confidence in coal-seam gas development has collapsed in the sector's production heartland of Queensland, where two-thirds of voters oppose the $60 billion industry or are undecided about it, far outnumbering its supporters.

An exclusive Newspoll for The Australian, gauging the top-of-mind issues for voters as campaigning gets under way for the March 24 state election, found only 33 per cent of respondents were in favour of CSG development. Of these, 11 per cent were strongly in favour.

However, 40 per cent of voters were against the industry, with the remaining 27 per cent undecided, Newspoll found.

Health and the economy remain the priority for Queensland voters. Crucially, the Liberal National Party is perceived to be the better economic manager by 47 per cent of voters, against 28 per cent for Anna Bligh's Labor government.

Voter hostility to the CSG industry cuts across political lines, with Labor and LNP supporters opposing it in almost equal measure, according to the Newspoll, which was conducted from February 3-15.

This suggests that the winner between Ms Bligh and LNP leader Campbell Newman will face a difficult challenge to rebuild support for the industry.

Disruption to communities is growing with the construction of a vast network of gas wells and pipelines across the state's central west and southern inland, converging on a new refining and port hub in the industrial city of Gladstone.

The modest level of public support for CSG will raise further questions about whether the industry is doing enough to promote its benefits and counter a grassroots campaign by an alliance of environmental groups, farmers, local community groups and activists who want to slow the pace of growth.

Queensland Environment Minister Vicky Darling recently warned CSG industry leaders that they risked "burning their community capital" by leaving the job of selling their achievements and solving problems to the government. "Too often companies tell the community it is the government's role to provide transparency and information, when there is much companies themselves could do," she told an industry conference in December.

"Through poor dealings with the community and a sometimes hands-off approach to explaining how the environment is protected and the law upheld, companies are burning their community capital."

Polling on CSG for the first time, Newspoll found that 40 per cent of voters were against the industry, split 38-37 between Labor and LNP supporters respectively. Overall, 23 per cent were strongly opposed to CSG extraction and 17 per cent somewhat against it.

Of the 33 per cent of voters backing the industry, more LNP supporters were strongly in favour (14 per cent) than those siding with Labor (11 per cent).

Some 35 per cent of voters believe the LNP would do a better job managing the industry, against 22 per cent for Labor.

However, the 30 per cent who are undecided on this underlines the potency of CSG as a vote-changer.

Both Labor and the LNP say they will enforce controls on CSG on prime agricultural land, and Ms Bligh has also promised to divert 50 per cent of gas royalties to a new education fund.

Yesterday, Mr Newman accused the government of putting the interests of CSG companies ahead of those of farmers.

"They have been quite happy for this power imbalance," he said. "They are quite happy for the big multinational gas companies to have all the power and the poor family farmer to be down here just sort of copping it. We won't stand for it."

Katter's Australian Party state leader Aidan McLindon predicted both Labor and the LNP would lose votes over CSG. "It will be a critical issue," he said.

The Newspoll of 1227 voters found health topped their list of concerns, 83 per cent nominating it as an issue that would most influence their decision on March 24. The issue of the economy ranked next on 72 per cent, followed by education on 71 per cent. CSG came in at 35 per cent.

The prioritising of health by voters will be deeply unwelcome for Ms Bligh, her term marred by a multi-million-dollar bungle in the payroll system of Queensland Health.

More recently, the government was embarrassed by revelations of a $16 million fraud committed by a Queensland Health grants officer.

Newspoll found only 26 per cent of voters backed Labor as best to handle health, against 47 per cent for the LNP. A fifth of voters were undecided.

Additional reporting: Michael McKenna, Rosanne Barrett