Forest Fact File - Public Opinion

Woodchipping to Japan - Joint Environment Group Commissioned

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.

---

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

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

---

Forests and School Children Opinions

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.

---

Petitions on the Wood Chip Debate...

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.

 

Return to the Forest Fact File Index