[Greens-Media] Poll results spin can't hide power sell-off opposition

[John Kaye]

Poll results spin can't hide power sell-off opposition 
 
Media Release 21 February 2008
 
Infrastructure Partnerships Australia (IPA) is trying to obscure the
overwhelming opposition to electricity privatisation in NSW, according
to Greens MP John Kaye.
 
Dr Kaye said: "A rigorous examination of the questions and results from
the survey commissioned by IPA reveals a very different story to the
spin of those who want to see the electricity industry sold off.
 
"Even though the survey questions were preceded by biased statements
talking up the benefits of privatisation, a close study of the results
shows there is strong opposition to the Iemma government's plan. 
 
"Despite the suggestion in the first question that privatisation could
guarantee 'constant, affordable and environmentally responsible power',
a massive 63.4 per cent of those who had an opinion opposed increased
private sector control of the electricity industry.
 
"Those polled were then inundated with propaganda in favour of
privatisation, and at no stage were any of the arguments against the
sell-off even mentioned.
 
"Even after they were subjected to the government's case, 56.4 per cent
of those with an opinion remained steadfastly opposed.
 
"It would have been interesting to ask the sampled voters whether they
supported power generators that are responsible for 35 per cent of the
state's greenhouse gas emissions being handed over to the private sector
for the next fifty or one hundred years?
 
"The pollsters failed to measure responses to the two thousand jobs in
the retail industry that would be sent off-shore or confidence levels in
a privatised electricity industry to protect household bills in a time
of rising wholesale prices? 
 
"It might suit the political agenda of Infrastructure Partnerships
Australia to talk up support for Treasurer Michael Costa's privatisation
push, but it is bad public policy to base decisions on a
misrepresentation of a biased opinion survey. 
 
"At least IPA had the decency to release their questions, which is more
than can be said for the Iemma government who have kept secret their
tax-payer funded polling data,” Dr Kaye said. 
 
For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455 
 
 
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John Kaye
Greens member of the NSW Parliament
phone: (02) 9230 2668
fax: (02) 9230 2586
mobile: 0407 195 455
email: john.kaye at parliament.nsw.gov.au
web: www.johnkaye.org.au
 
mail: Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000