Federal Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry has called on the Queensland Government to come clean on taxpayer-funded polling into their COVID-19 strategy ahead of last year’s state election.
This is following reports the Queensland Government interviewed hundreds of residents of the Livingstone Shire including the Member for Keppel’s seat and the state seat of Mirani.
Ms Landry said the issue was that the Premier’s office was using taxpayer funds to do polling into marginal seats to bolster their chances at the state election.
“It has been reported that the research has so far cost taxpayers’ a massive $528,000.
“This is a serious concern and I’m calling on the Premier to explain if these reports are correct and if they are, Queenslanders’ deserve an explanation.”
Ms Landry said the Queensland Government tried to sell to the public that the polling was on COVID not politics.
“The Premier has claimed that all her decisions were based solely on health advice since the start of the pandemic.
“However, based off these reports, the ongoing research was used to help shape the government’s re-election strategy by asking about Queenslanders’ attitudes to the economic impacts of lockdowns versus health risks.
“This includes questions on the merit of borders closures and what people believe should ‘trigger’ any easing of restrictions and border closures.
“Queenslanders deserve better and it’s time the Palaszczuk Government come clean on these polling reports” Ms Landry said.
