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04 July 2005

Poll dancing - some little thoughts

When pondering why government won't release a series of eight polls done by Ryan Research for Executive Council, ask yourself the same questions I have been mulling over:

1. Since Ryan Research is the Premier's personal favourite polling firm, is it possible most of the information in the eight polls really about attitudes to the Premier and his performance and how the public is viewing his opponents? That information isn't Earth-shattering or secret; it might be a tad embarrassing for the Premier himself, though.

2. Are these polls actually ones that should have been paid for directly out of the Premier's Office budget but which were, a la Tobin, foisted on someone else?

One thing I would bet my house on: the resistance to releasing them has nothing to do with the need to keep cabinet discussions secret.