Chris Meibusch.

Poll

Is Ian Macfarlane's "Groom's Biggest Survey" a waste of taxpayers' money?

This poll ended on 16 February 2010.

• Yes
• 72%
• No
• 27%

This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.

ALP stalwart and former candidate for Groom Chris Meibusch has labelled Ian Macfarlane’s recent “Groom’s Biggest Survey” mailout as “push polling”.

The veteran MP’s office posted the survey to every household in the Groom electorate this week.

“It’s a clever political document designed to convince the electorate that the local member values their opinions,” Mr Meibusch said.

“In fact, it is effectively push polling with loaded questions.”

Mr Macfarlane denied the survey was push polling, saying it was “a legitimate and effective way to make sure as many people as possible had their opportunity to have their say”.

“While Mr Meibusch reflects the tradition of the ALP, and the Rudd Government in particular, of being all talk and no action, it is my intention to listen to what the people in our community are saying and act on it,” Mr Macfarlane said.

The Member for Groom refused to reveal the cost of the survey, saying it had been produced using his printing and communications entitlement and the full cost would be tabled in Parliament.

“A more accurate description would be that it’s party political advertising funded by the Australian taxpayer,” Mr Meibusch argued.

Mr Meibusch said he intended to nominate as Labor’s candidate for Groom at the next federal election.