Secret polling commissioned by the Queensland government costing taxpayers almost $400,000 has been publicly released, and shows voters have been unsatisfied with the state's performance on crime, housing and being trustworthy.  

Initiated under former premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, the state government paid $392,638 to market research company IPSOS to conduct 10 waves of polling surveys on 1,200 voters in the lead up to the state election.

The polling began in May last year and will continue until June 2024.

The results for November — the fifth round of polling — showed 23 per cent of respondents were satisfied the Queensland government was trustworthy, down from 28 per cent in September.

Only 16 per cent of those surveyed were satisfied with how the state was tacking crime, and 14 per cent or less were satisfied with the state's performance on easing the cost of living and making housing more affordable.

A report about the November polling was finalised by IPSOS for the Department of Premier and Cabinet on December 4, several days before Ms Palaszczuk announced her resignation as premier and member for Inala.

'Government can be more transparent' 

Ms Palaszczuk refused to release the polling after calls from the opposition to do so the last year.

In a bid to improve transparency, today Premier Steven Miles released the first five waves of survey results conducted in this term of government.

"The Queensland government, like most large organisations, commissions research to understand the views of Queenslanders," he told parliament.

"I don't think it's unusual for government, indeed any business or organisation, using audience research to inform their work.

"But I do think government can be more transparent."

Olympics support also down

The polling also found support for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics and Paralympic Games had dropped, with 38 per cent of respondents agreeing the Olympics were a good idea, down from 43 per cent.

Satisfaction levels over safety also decreased, with 56 per cent of those surveyed being satisfied that they feel safe, compared to 61 per cent in the previous survey.

Mr Miles acknowledged community safety and cost of living were key areas of concern for voters.

"We know community safety is a concern for a lot of Queenslanders, but the research also tells us it's a complex problem and not everyone agrees on the solution," he told parliament.

"We know cost of living is an issue for many and we're working to tackle it.

"Other more historic research helped inform our messaging during the COVID-19 pandemic, to make sure Queenslanders were safe and informed of the restrictions in place and why they were important."

'Queenslanders won't be fooled'

Shadow attorney-general Tim Nicholls said Mr Miles was only releasing the polling to distance himself from the Palaszczuk government.

"But Queenslanders won't be fooled, everyone remembers Steven Miles was joined at the hip and shoulder with Annastacia Palaszczuk on every decision they made.

"And we're not going to let him run from his record because it's his record that Queenslanders are judging him on and that includes those results that were released today in a cynical exercise."

In 2020, the Palaszczuk government spent half a million dollars polling Queenslanders' opinions on the coronavirus which the state government said was used to help shape behaviour-changing campaigns and direct more funding into domestic violence ahead of the state election. 

At the time, Ms Palaszczuk refused to release the polling and denied it was used for political gain in the lead up to the election.