Polling of constituents in the seat of Mount Gambier has found that almost two in every three say they will vote for the party and candidate that best supports South Australia’s forest industries.

The South Australian Forest Productions Association commissioned a poll, conducted by UComms, found that more than 99% of voters in Mount Gambier recognised the sector’s importance to the local economy.

The poll targeted voters in the seats of Mount Gambier, currently held by Independent Troy Bell and the northern SA electorate of Stuart, currently held by Deputy Premier Dan van Holst Pellekaan.

South Australian Forest Products Association chief executive Nathan Paine (pictured) said poll clearly showed the major parties and candidates contesting the two electorates must support growth in the state’s forest industries.

“Forest industries contribute over $3b annually to the SA economy and directly and indirectly employs more than 18,000 South Australians, most of them in the South East followed by the Mid North – the home of the Australian plantation forestry industry, so it is not surprising the voters in these regions recognise the significance of the sector to their local communities,” Mr Paine said.

“The community’s message to the candidates and major parties is loud and clear: support our forest products industries if you want our vote. And, as the poll shows, the question of who will be SA’s next premier could well be decided by these electorates.”

Mr Paine said the polls of more than 800 people conducted last week across the two electorates also found, in the seat of Mount Gambier, that over half (53.5%) believe Liberal Premier Steven Marshall would make a better premier.

“In both seats, the polling suggests that both sitting members would be returned if the election had been held last Saturday with Troy Bell in Mount Gambier and the Deputy Premier in Stuart,” Mr Paine said.

In Mount Gambier 73.1% of the 402 people polled responded “more likely” when asked, “Would you be more or less likely to vote for a candidate or political party with policies that support the electorates forest industries?” against only 6.1% who responded less “likely”.

The poll also found 99.1% believe forest industries such as timber production and processing are somewhat important or very important to the economy.

The poll follows the launch of SAFPA’s election policy platform, which was headlined by a call on the parties and candidates to commit to planting 50 million trees over the next four years to supercharge the economic value of timber manufacturing in SA, drive innovation and create thousands more regional jobs in our forest industries across the state.