Qld: Govt using 'push polling' on council mergers: Seeney

AAP General News (Australia)
08-19-2007
Qld: Govt using 'push polling' on council mergers: Seeney

BRISBANE, Aug 19 AAP - Queensland's opposition has accused the state government of
"push polling" in a bid to legitimise its forced council mergers.

Premier Peter Beattie today released new government-commissioned research that found
73 per per cent of Queenslanders believed stronger councils were needed to handle population
growth.

Fifty per cent supported new local government boundaries passed by state parliament
two weeks ago, while 48 per cent disagreed with them.

The research also showed 52 per cent of Queenslanders believed referendums should be
held on the mergers.

Opposition Leader Jeff Seeney said the government had fashioned the questions in a biased way.

"The government have been asking the questions that they need to get the answer that
they want," he told reporters today.

"For the premier to come out this morning and claim that somehow or other the poll
justifies this decision is breathtakingly dishonest."

Mr Seeney said people had been asked, "Do you think councils need to be strengthened?"

"It's a bit like asking people whether they love their mother. Of course you're going
to say yes to that," Mr Seeney said.

He said other questions included "Are you aware the local government reform laws have
passed through parliament?", immediately followed by "Do you believe referendums are a
waste of money?"

"It's classic push polling," Mr Seeney said.

"It is fundamentally dishonest for the premier to claim that this has any integrity at all."

Mr Beattie has admitted he "stuffed up" by legislating to stop polls on controversial
local government mergers and backed away from his earlier threats to sack any councils
that held referendums on the issue.

Mr Seeney welcomed the premier's backdown.

"But there's a lot more backing down for Peter Beattie to do on this issue," he said.

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KEYWORD: COUNCILS SEENEY

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