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EAST GIPPSLAND OPINION POLL April 2002 ON ATTITUDES TOWARDS LOGGING, OF GENERAL IMPORTANCE.
Poll commissioned by CROEG [Concerned Residents of East Gippsland, now known as Environment East Gippsland] on 21st
April 2002. Conducted by NCS Pearson, Market Research company. Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI) conducted evenings
24th and 26th April. Results returned Ð 6th May. Total number polled Ð 400.
Error margin Ð 5%, or 95% confidence level.
Sampling method - random from East Gippsland post code areas.
Demographics - interviewees reflected population distribution,
age and gender as close as possible (to within 3%) from the East Gippsland Shire statistical local area. 24% of interviewees
were over 65 (in Orbost it was 29%) 7% of respondents worked in the logging industry
Questions
1. Do you think
the RFA [Federal/State Government forest logging agreement] for East Gippsland has worked?
Yes -15%
No - 50%
2. Which do you think has greater potential for providing secure, long term jobs in East Gippsland?
Logging
29%
Tourism 59%
3. Do you think old growth native forests should be clearfell logged?
Yes 23%
No 67%
4. If there was an alternative for providing sawn timber Ð such as plantations, would you agree with phasing logging
out of native forests?
Yes 70%
No 24%
5. Is there too much woodchipping, too little, just enough?
Too
much 46%
Too little 6%
Just right 23%
On NCS Pearson
This company is an international
media company with almost $11 billion in revenue. Among its customers - Department of Defence, Department of Employment, Education
and Training, KPMG, McDonalds, Nestles, Red Cross and others.
The poll was commissioned by a small East Gippsland
environment group who have been campaigning for forests for the past 20 years. This shows significant support for their work.
Comments
This region is seen as a stronghold of the conservative voter - having been National
Party throughout Australia's political history.
This means there is would be no region of Victoria that wants to see
logging of old growth, or that thinks logging is the main industry in their region.
Conservationist attitudes are
no longer marginal or fringe, they are mainstream.
Politicians will find it difficult to sell the logging industry
by saying the regions expect/need to log forests.
political history.
This means there is would be no region
of Victoria that wants to see logging of old growth, or that thinks logging is the main industry in their region.
Conservationist
attitudes are no longer marginal or fringe, they are mainstream.
Politicians will find it difficult to sell the logging
industry by saying the regions expect/need to log forests.
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