As a $2.95 million taxpayer-funded handout for a private development inside the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area is back in the news, a ReachTEL poll shows massive public opposition.

As a $2.95 million taxpayer-funded handout for a private development inside the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area is back in the news, a ReachTEL poll shows massive public opposition.

The poll, commissioned by the Bob Brown Foundation, was taken on Wednesday night and asked 1,188 Tasmanian voters Do you support or oppose governments giving taxpayer money to private developers to build private resorts inside the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area?

A 3:1 majority - including a majority of Liberal voters - were opposed (see poll results attached). While 69.4% opposed taxpayer funding, only 23.0% were in support and 7.7% were unsure.

“This is a loud and clear message to the Liberals, especially Premier Hodgman, of WRONG WAY GO BACK,” Bob Brown said today.

“In a state without adequate funding of schools, hospitals and national parks, this poll shows that people will be appalled to find that $2.95 million of federal taxpayers’ money is being gifted to a private profiteer to build two-storey cabins for high-end tourists on the iconic South Coast Track.”

In a second ReachTEL question, a 2:1 majority of Tasmanians opposed Premier Hodgman’s interference with management plans for the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area to allow for private developments.

“Clearly Tasmanians are proud of our World Heritage wilderness and want its time-honoured management upheld. The premier’s determination to privatise the eyes out of the wilderness is going to meet great public disapproval,” Brown said.

4 May 2018

More information

Steven Chaffer 0408 855 261

The ReachTEL poll results are available here.