Forest Fact File - Public Opinion

Newspoll - December 1994 - To the Question "Next a question about native forests. Do you personally approve or disapprove of trees from Australian's native forests being fell and exported as woodchips to Japan?"

80.3% of Australians disapproved, 11.7% approved, 8.0% undecided.
83.2% of Blue Collar Workers disapproved
76.3% of White Collar Workers disapproved
86.5% of Women disapproved
73.7% of Men disapproved.

700 respondents aged 18 and over in Syd 200, Melb 200, Bris 100, Adel 100, Perth 100.

Reference: Newspoll - 2-4th Dec 1994 - Commissioned by Open Mind Research Group, on behalf of their client Environment Victoria.

Logging in Undisturbed Forests
63% Opposed to Logging in native forests that have not been logged before.
24% Supported logging in undisturbed native forests.

Logging in Disturbed Forest
43% Opposed to Logging even in areas that are logged in the past.
45% Supported logging areas which had been logged in the past.

Woodchipping

25% Woodchip exports should be stopped immediately
47% Endorsed the nation target of phasing out woodchips by 5 years.
20% Supported continuing export woodchipping beyond the year 2000.

Envi vs Jobs
50% were more Concerned about the environment than Jobs
24% More concerned about maintaining forest industry jobs than preserving the environment.
21% They were concerned about both.

Qualitative
Greenies tended to be, other voters, young, & female.

Reference: Age Poll 15/2/95 - AGB McNair - National - Size 2062

Being in a Forest is Great: 86% Yes, 2% No, 12% ?.
Forest are Important: 96% Yes, 4% No, 2% ?.
Forests Never Change: 80% No, 17% Yes, 3% ?.
People should leave the forest alone as much as possible: 78% Yes, 9% No, 13% ?.
Forest belong to everyone and should be used by everyone: 53% Yes, 28% No,19% ?.
There will always be enough forests because they grow back after being cut down. 77% No, 11% Yes, 12% ?.
Our forests are disappearing. 92% Yes, 4% No, 4% ?.

Reference: Anna-Louise Allen, (May 1993) Forest Changes, Published by Dept. Conservation and Natural Resources.

42 786 signitures on petitions were tabled in the Senate and House of reps from 23 August and 9 Decmeber 1994.
26 064 signitures were presented to both houses from 31 January to 9 February.