By AIDAN KNIGHT
LOCALS may find themselves experiencing cold-call phone survey’s in the lead up to the state election this November.
Several residents have reported receiving such correspondence.
Calls have been made by people claiming to be operating an “authorised survey” on voting intention across Gippsland.
The calls are lasting around 20 minutes.
They begin by asking call-takers who they would most likely be voting for.
One resident told the Express they were asked who they will preference out of incumbent Nationals Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron, and Labor candidate Tracie Lund.
Ms Lund, a former Latrobe City councillor, isn’t a newcomer to the state race, having participated in the 2022 election as an independent, earning 2.8 per cent of the total 46,787 votes.
Prominent local commentator Taylah Ling has also been caught up in the saga.
Ms Ling has been linked to a run with One Nation for the seat of Morwell.
“I have not put forth any expression of interest for any political party. I am not endorsed by any political party,” she confirmed with the Express.
“People local to me have received calls late at night from a Tasmanian (based) research centre.”
Ms Ling told the Express she phoned the call centre asking for information on who was bankrolling the operation, but was told it was confidential.
The Express has reason to believe these calls may be conducted by the Enterprise Market Research Services. Multiple residents also reported that both versions of the calls included questions about their views on United States President Donald Trump, despite the survey being framed around voting intentions for a Victorian state election.
The origin and intent of the calls remain unclear, and it is not known who, if anyone, has commissioned the research.
