QLD Poll: Majority oppose privatisation

A new Queensland poll confirms the State Government’s privatisation plans will severely affect Federal Labor’s chances in Queensland in this year’s election.

Queensland Council of Unions General Secretary Ron Monaghan said the poll proved privatisation was still deeply unpopular and that it had now become a federal election issue.

“This is an extremely sobering result for the State Government and it’s now time to resolve the privatisation issue once and for all.

“There can be no hiding behind cancelled state conferences and the like – the polling figures speak for themselves.

“It’s not too late to save these important assets and keep the jobs and services these assets provide in regional Queensland.”

Key poll findings include:

• Just one in 10 Queenslanders supports privatisation;
• 59% of voters say the asset sales program makes them less likely to vote for the Labor Party in the next state election;
• 66% will not forget the asset sales issue at the ballot box even if it has been resolved by then;
• 80% of those polled think the government has underestimated public opposition to asset sales;
• Almost 70% do not agree with the share float of Queensland Rail.

Mr Monaghan said another significant finding from the poll was that Queensland voters believed they had been misled on the government’s privatisation plans.

“74% of Queenslanders surveyed think the Bligh Government lied to the public by keeping secret its plans to privatise prior to the March 2009 state election.

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