4 March. 2015
Manly to Premier Baird: listen to us, not the big mining companies
Less than four weeks out from the NSW state election, Manly locals have sent a clear message to Premier Mike Baird urging him to hear them, not big mining and power companies.
A ReachTEL poll commissioned by a coalition of groups has found almost two thirds (59%) of Premier Baird’s Manly electorate believe the coal and gas companies have too much influence over the NSW state government.
The electorate also voiced concern about the current level of expansion by coal and coal seam gas mining across the state with 84% of the Manly electorate speaking out.
An overwhelming 68 per cent of the Manly electorate believe Premier Baird is not doing enough to protect farmlands, forests and water from coal mining and coal seam gas fracking.
It wasn’t just Labor and Greens supporters who voiced concern, with 50% of Liberal voters being very concerned about expanding coal mining and coal seam gas fracking too.
Four out of every five Manly voters (77%) said they would welcome proposals to protect water, farmland and our environment. Amongst Liberal voters, support for greater protection was 70%.
The ReachTEL poll was conducted just days before 250 volunteers carried out an electorate-wide doorknock of Manly on Sunday, making this the largest single electorate doorknock ever in NSW, to survey local residents on their attitudes to coal mining, CSG fracking and Premier Mike Baird’s strong support for these polluting industries.
Freshwater resident Jan Brooker who participated on Sunday said, “It was
really inspiring to see so many other locals here in Manly as concerned as I am about coal and coal seam gas mining, now we just need Mike Baird to listen."
The community survey and poll have been coordinated by the Our Land Our Water Our Future campaign with GetUp, The Wilderness Society, and the Nature Conservation Council of NSW. The results of the community survey will be delivered to Premier Baird’s office on Thursday morning.
GetUp campaign director Paul Oosting said, “Baird’s own electorate has sent him a clear message – they don’t support CSG developments and the destruction of our environment. It’s obvious this isn’t a regional concern, it’s a state concern and one that deserves Baird’s full attention.”
Our Land Our Water Our Future campaign co-ordinator Holly Creenaunesaid,
“In key regional electorates, the NSW government are feeling the pressure from voters with concerns about coal mining and coal seam gas fracking.
Now, people in Manly and across Sydney are marking it as an urgent issue for Premier Baird to resolve.
“The 250 volunteers surveying the Manly electorate on Sunday achieved the biggest single day electorate doorknock in NSW political history. This issue is not going away for Premier Baird. Our state’s best farmlands, forests and water need protection from coal and coal seam gas mining.”
Nature Conservation Council CEO Kate Smolski said, “The concern of the 250
volunteers was more than matched by the response they got from Manly residents.
More than 96% of people surveyed want the Baird Government to do more to protect farmlands, forests and water catchments.
“These survey results should stiffen Premier Baird’s resolve to stand up to coal and coal seam gas companies. If they don’t, that’s a sure sign that these big resource companies are calling the shots in NSW,” said Ms Smolski.
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