The ACT Labor Party could consider sanctions against a member and former branch official who conducted an apparently unauthorised opinion poll about Chief Minister Andrew Barr's popularity and the government's light rail project.
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A resident of Canberra's south have this week reported receiving two automated calls from polling company the Greasy Poll, owned by former ACT Labor candidate for Brindabella and official Karl Maftoum.
Mr Maftoum is a federal public servant and the sole director and secretary of the Greasy Poll.
The participant reported being asked for their views on the performance of the Barr government and if they were more or less likely to vote for Labor after former chief minister Katy Gallagher resigned last year.
The automated poll asked which party or candidate the participant voted for in 2012 and how important issues including rates, transport and the light rail line to Gungahlin would be in determining their vote at next year's election.
ACT Labor branch secretary Matt Byrne said he had no knowledge of the poll until he was contacted by Fairfax Media. He has since sought an explanation from Mr Maftoum.
"The ALP has not engaged the company at any time for conducting research," he said on Thursday.
"The only person who can authorise research on behalf of the party is the party secretary. I will be examining our rules to see if there has been any breach."
Mr Maftoum did not respond to requests for comment this week.
A spokesman for Mr Barr said the poll had not been commissioned or authorised by anyone in the ACT government or its agencies.
ACT Labor is understood to commission about one poll a year, outside of election campaigns. Party officials and members won't welcome news of the unauthorised poll which could annoy voters more than 18 months before the election.
Australia's political parties have suffered from perceptions they rely too heavily on opinion polling and ACT Labor is likely to be angry it has been linked to Mr Maftoum's activities.
Mr Maftoum's links to the Greasy Poll could solve a mystery about previous polling calls.
In September 2014, Opposition Leader Jeremy Hanson used question time to ask Ms Gallagher about reports the same company was calling Canberrans about the light rail project, Mr Fluffy asbestos removal plans and the City to the Lake infrastructure project.
Ms Gallagher told the Legislative Assembly she had no knowledge of the company or its activities.
The change to Mr Barr and the controversial light rail project are likely to be key factors for voters choosing who to support at the election, set for October 2016.
Mr Byrne described Mr Barr as a strong Assembly performer who had the "right vision and commitment to Canberra" as Labor leader.
Mr Hanson said Labor members had told him Mr Barr would be less popular than his successful predecessor and that light rail would be a key issue.
"They know that the day Katy Gallagher walked out of the Assembly, a lot of votes walked out with her," he said. "Those votes are now up for grabs and that is a challenge for both myself and Andrew Barr."
Ms Gallagher will join the Senate in March.
Outgoing ACT senator Kate Lundy is expected to give her valedictory speech on March 23, a date chosen to align with the sitting of the Legislative Assembly.
After Senator Lundy's resignation is received by the president of the Senate, Assembly members will vote on Ms Gallagher's nomination to fill the casual vacancy.
Ms Gallagher is likely to take up her seat representing the ACT as soon as March 26.
