Australia
August 7, 2007
Accusations of push-polling in
biotechnology poll are unfounded and unjustified
Accusations of push-polling in a survey of public attitudes
towards biotechnology, conducted by an independent research
company for the Australian Government agency
Biotechnology
Australia are unfounded and unjustified.
Responding to criticisms of the survey by anti-biotechnology
activist groups, including Greenpeace and the GeneEthics
Network, the Manager of Public Awareness for Biotechnology
Australia, Mr Craig Cormick, said: "These accusations seem
hypocritical when you consider the fact that the groups were
involved in the round table with industry groups and researchers
that workshopped the questions for the survey, and they were
happy with the questions when they were developed.
"However, now that the survey has found a large change of public
attitudes in favour of gene technology and biotechnology they
have suddenly decided they are unhappy with the survey.
"Interestingly, two years ago, when the last similar survey was
done, industry groups criticised the survey because it found
that the public had many concerns about gene technology," he
said.
"The fact is, the survey is statistically valid, is well
regarded internationally, and many academic papers have been
published based on the findings revealed by these biennial
surveys of community attitudes to biotechnology. They are
conducted by a highly-reputable independent research company,
Eureka Strategic Research.
"The NGO criticism is misleading in calling the study
push-polling, as this is when a survey is conducted with a
hidden objective to disseminate information, rather than
collecting opinions. This study is clearly not push-polling as
it has used questions identical to those used in the past, it
explored the public’s view of both risks and benefits of GM and
was carefully balanced. The same questions have been used
deliberately so that we can track changes in public attitudes
over time.
"The NGOs who are taking issue with the survey are really taking
issue with the Australian public, as it is their change of
attitude towards biotechnology that is causing the NGOs most
concern."
The full study, and the questions used in the survey, are
available from Biotechnology Australia's website:
www.biotechnology.gov.au/reports.
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