Carbon pricing
Q. Do you support or oppose the Government’s carbon pricing scheme which was introduced in July 2012 and requires industries to pay a tax based on the amount of carbon pollution they emit?
|
7 Mar 2011 |
14 June 2011 |
19 Sep 2011 |
21 Nov 2011 |
25 Jun 2012 |
2 Oct 12 |
Total 29 Jan 13 |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
| Total support |
35% |
38% |
37% |
38% |
35% |
38% |
37% |
60% |
19% |
61% |
| Total oppose |
48% |
49% |
52% |
53% |
54% |
48% |
50% |
24% |
75% |
30% |
| Strongly support |
9% |
13% |
14% |
14% |
14% |
12% |
11% |
21% |
3% |
23% |
| Support |
26% |
25% |
23% |
24% |
21% |
26% |
26% |
39% |
16% |
38% |
| Oppose |
19% |
19% |
17% |
17% |
19% |
22% |
22% |
16% |
27% |
19% |
| Strongly oppose |
29% |
30% |
35% |
36% |
35% |
26% |
28% |
8% |
48% |
11% |
| Don’t know |
18% |
13% |
12% |
10% |
11% |
14% |
12% |
16% |
7% |
9% |
Support for carbon pricing has not changed significantly since the last time the question was polled in October 2012. Support is down a point to 37% and opposition up 2 points to 50%.
Looking at the results by voting intention, Labor voters (60%) and Greens voters (61%) were the most likely to support carbon pricing, whereas 75% of Coalition voters oppose it.
Younger respondents were more likely to support carbon pricing than older respondents – for those aged under 35, 44% support and 39% oppose while 60% of those aged 55+ oppose and 35% support.
Repealing major Government decisions
Q. If the Liberal and National parties win the next election, should they repeal any of these Government decisions?
|
Yes, should repeal |
No, should not repeal |
Don’t know |
|
| The carbon pricing scheme |
45% |
37% |
18% |
| NBN (National Broadband Network) |
18% |
63% |
20% |
| The Minerals Resource Rent Tax (MRRT) |
24% |
50% |
28% |
A greater portion of respondents believe that a Coalition government should repeal the carbon pricing scheme (45%) that those that believe they should not (37%).
A majority of respondents otherwise believe that a Coalition government should not repeal the NBN (63%), and a greater portion believe it should not repeal the MRRT (50%) compared to those that believe it should (24%).
Looking at the results by voting intention, Lib/Nat voters are also more likely to believe a Coalition government should repeal the carbon pricing scheme (72%), the NBN (30%) and the MRRT (44%).
Broken down by gender, male respondents (50%) are more likely than female respondents (39%) to believe that a Coalition government should repeal the carbon tax. Conversely, male respondents were more likely to believe that a Coalition government should not repeal the NBN (66%) compared to female respondents (60%) and also more likely to believe that they should not repeal the MRRT (54%) compared with female respondents (47%).
Likelihood of repealing major Government decisions
Q. If the Liberal and National parties win the next election, do you think they will repeal any of these Government decisions?
|
Yes, probably will repeal |
No, probably won’t repeal |
Don’t know |
|
| The carbon pricing scheme |
44% |
32% |
24% |
| NBN (National Broadband Network) |
18% |
54% |
28% |
| The Minerals Resource Rent Tax (MRRT) |
33% |
35% |
32% |
A greater portion of respondents believe that a Coalition government will repeal the carbon tax (44%) than those that believe they will not repeal it (32%).
The majority of respondents believe that a Coalition government probably won’t repeal the NBN (54%).
Respondents are evenly split on whether a Coalition government will repeal the MRRT, with 33% believing they will repeal it and 35% believing they probably won’t.
Tries Lies: More Carbon Porkies to Come
First published on The Drum 26 June 2012
The ‘lie’ at the heart of Labor’s carbon tax has assumed legendary status. Never mind that the realities of the supposed falsehood are highly contestable – Labor’s carbon pricing scheme is arguably not a tax at all – “there will be no carbon tax under the government I lead” has become the iconic political lie of our times.
Its ruthlessly successful exploitation by the Abbott Opposition has spawned a political craze in exposing opponents’ lies, in the hope of replicating this highly successful case study in trust-related brand damage.
But what about the Opposition’s penchant for stretching the truth on impacts of the carbon tax?
George Brandis’s assertion the carbon tax was responsible for 1900 job cuts at Fairfax was a cracker, but only a natural extension of years of dubious claims the carbon tax would wipe towns off the map, spark mass shut-downs of industry and send families to the wall under crippling power prices.
With not much else to look forward to, Labor hopes the sun rising on July 1 – towns and families intact – will expose the Opposition’s spurious rhetoric about the carbon tax. Who is calling us liars now, you liars?
The collapse in trust in politics as we’ve reported on before, is a defining feature of our current political culture, driven largely by the kind of negative politics that have characterised the carbon debate.
In this environment, Labor has been unable to win back support for its carbon pricing scheme, with support levels on the eve of its introduction at the same low level they were towards the start of last year.
Q. Do you support or oppose the Government’s carbon pricing scheme which, from July 2012, will require industries to pay a tax based on the amount of carbon pollution they emit?
|
7 Mar 2011 |
23 May |
1 Aug |
21 Nov |
Total 25 Jun 2012 |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
| Total support |
35% |
41% |
39% |
38% |
35% |
67% |
13% |
74% |
| Total oppose |
48% |
44% |
51% |
53% |
54% |
21% |
81% |
21% |
| Strongly support |
9% |
14% |
15% |
14% |
14% |
28% |
4% |
38% |
| Support |
26% |
27% |
24% |
24% |
21% |
39% |
9% |
36% |
| Oppose |
19% |
15% |
19% |
17% |
19% |
12% |
24% |
13% |
| Strongly oppose |
29% |
29% |
32% |
36% |
35% |
9% |
57% |
8% |
| Don’t know |
18% |
15% |
10% |
10% |
11% |
12% |
7% |
6% |
If there’s a positive for Labor there, it’s that it has been able to win the support of its base on this issue, with two-thirds of Labor voters (admittedly a small pool – link to table) supporting the policy.
But despite Labor’s focus on selling the compensation elements of the carbon pricing reform, the public has bought the cost-of-living scare, with 71% believing their cost of living will increase moderately or a lot. A further 20% thought there would be a small increase and just 2% thought there would be no impact. Power, petrol, groceries and fruit and veg – people are expecting the introduction of the carbon tax to be a disaster for their hip pockets.
Q. And what impact do you expect the carbon tax to have on each of the following?
|
Increase a lot |
Increase a little |
Stay much the same |
Decrease a little |
Decrease a lot |
Don’t know |
|
| Energy prices |
67% |
26% |
4% |
* |
- |
3% |
| Fuel prices |
53% |
31% |
11% |
1% |
* |
4% |
| Grocery prices |
41% |
41% |
14% |
1% |
- |
4% |
| Fresh fruit and vegetable prices |
39% |
39% |
18% |
* |
* |
4% |
| Unemployment |
31% |
27% |
32% |
2% |
1% |
8% |
| Interest rates |
22% |
18% |
38% |
8% |
1% |
13% |
And herein lies the risk for Tony Abbott.
With the happy bonus that most of us aren’t really too sure what the carbon tax actually is, we can expect plenty more Brandis-style water-muddying as the carbon tax is blamed for job losses, power price rises, divorces and bad haircuts caused by completely unrelated factors.
But what if the Opposition can’t deliver carbon tax Armageddon? What if people accept that any moderate increases in prices have been offset by the one-off ‘cashforyou’ payments and associated support packages? Or, and this may be stretching it, what if the media starts questioning come of the tenuous links between price rises and carbon that the Opposition attempts to exploit?
If the world doesn’t end on Sunday, will people shift their opinion of the Carbon Tax or, worse still for Abbott, start to wonder whether they have been played for fools? Already the rhetoric is shifting from ‘death strike’ to ‘python’s grip’ but is this sustainable as a basis for the daily high-vis vest photo opp that has become the Oppostion’s modus operandi.
Another potential porky lies in the Opposition Leader’s promise to repeal the carbon tax.Abbott has pledged ‘in blood’ there would be no carbon tax under the government he leads.
Currently, we’re fairly evenly split on whether a pledge in blood is actually a core promise, with a slight majority believing he’ll go through with it.
Q. If they won the next election, how likely do you think it would be that Tony Abbott and the Liberal Party would repeal the carbon tax?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
| Total likely |
44% |
28% |
64% |
42% |
| Total unlikely |
40% |
62% |
22% |
41% |
| Don’t know |
17% |
11% |
14% |
17% |
But what if he can’t get the numbers through the Senate? What if he is forced to negotiate and, God forbid compromise, with those holding the balance of power? Will this be a case of a politician dealing with the hand they are dealt or just another example that all politicians lie?
While it’s easy to dismiss the dealing in truth and lies as business as usual politics, but in turning it into a Weapon of Mass Destruction it will be interesting to see if the Opposition leader has not set set his own future government onto a path of Mutually Assured Destruction.
Carbon Tax
Q. Do you support or oppose the Government’s carbon pricing scheme which, from July 2012, will require industries to pay a tax based on the amount of carbon pollution they emit?
|
7 Mar 2011 |
18 Apr |
23 May |
14 Jun |
18 Jul |
1 Aug |
19 Sep |
17 Oct |
21 Nov |
Total 25 Jun 12 |
Vote ALP |
Vote Lib |
Vote Greens |
|
| Total support |
35% |
39% |
41% |
38% |
39% |
39% |
37% |
39% |
38% |
35% |
67% |
13% |
74% |
| Total oppose |
48% |
49% |
44% |
49% |
49% |
51% |
52% |
53% |
53% |
54% |
21% |
81% |
21% |
| Strongly support |
9% |
13% |
14% |
13% |
15% |
15% |
14% |
14% |
14% |
14% |
28% |
4% |
38% |
| Support |
26% |
26% |
27% |
25% |
24% |
24% |
23% |
25% |
24% |
21% |
39% |
9% |
36% |
| Oppose |
19% |
15% |
15% |
19% |
16% |
19% |
17% |
17% |
17% |
19% |
12% |
24% |
13% |
| Strongly oppose |
29% |
34% |
29% |
30% |
33% |
32% |
35% |
36% |
36% |
35% |
9% |
57% |
8% |
| Don’t know |
18% |
12% |
15% |
13% |
12% |
10% |
12% |
9% |
10% |
11% |
12% |
7% |
6% |
Support for the carbon pricing scheme has fallen a little since this question was asked in November last year. 35% (down 3%) support the scheme and 54% oppose (up 1%).
All demographic groups were more likely to oppose than support – although younger respondents showed higher support than older respondents. Support/oppose by age was 39%/45% for aged 18-34, 32%/56% for aged 35-54 and 33%/61% for aged 55+.
Carbon Tax
Q. Do you support or oppose the Government’s proposal to introduce a carbon pricing scheme from 1 July 2012, which will require industries to pay a tax based on the amount of carbon pollution they emit?
| 7 March | 18 April | 23 May | 14 June | 18 July | 1 Aug | 19 Sep | 17 Oct | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Total support | 35% | 39% | 41% | 38% | 39% | 39% | 37% | 39% | 66% | 15% | 80% |
| Total oppose | 48% | 49% | 44% | 49% | 49% | 51% | 52% | 53% | 24% | 81% | 16% |
| Strongly support | 9% | 13% | 14% | 13% | 15% | 15% | 14% | 14% | 25% | 2% | 45% |
| Support | 26% | 26% | 27% | 25% | 24% | 24% | 23% | 25% | 41% | 13% | 35% |
| Oppose | 19% | 15% | 15% | 19% | 16% | 19% | 17% | 17% | 14% | 19% | 10% |
| Strongly oppose | 29% | 34% | 29% | 30% | 33% | 32% | 35% | 36% | 10% | 62% | 6% |
| Don’t know | 18% | 12% | 15% | 13% | 12% | 10% | 12% | 9% | 10% | 4% | 3% |
Views on the carbon pricing scheme have changed very little since June. 39% support the scheme (up 2% since September) and 53% oppose (up 1%).
The only demographic group to support the scheme were aged under 35’s – 46% support/43% oppose. Among those aged 55+, 33% support and 63% oppose.
Support for Carbon Pricing Scheme
Q. Do you support or oppose the Government’s proposal to introduce a carbon pricing scheme from 1 July 2012, which will require industries to pay a tax based on the amount of carbon pollution they emit?
| 7 March | 14 March | 28 March | 18 April | 23 May | 30 May | 14 June | 11 July | 18 July | 1 Aug | Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Total support | 35% | 38% | 34% | 39% | 41% | 38% | 38% | 35% | 39% | 39% | 37% | 67% | 13% | 76% |
| Total oppose | 48% | 49% | 51% | 49% | 44% | 48% | 49% | 53% | 49% | 51% | 52% | 22% | 80% | 14% |
| Strongly support | 9% | 12% | 12% | 13% | 14% | 14% | 13% | 11% | 15% | 15% | 14% | 31% | 2% | 34% |
| Support | 26% | 26% | 22% | 26% | 27% | 24% | 25% | 24% | 24% | 24% | 23% | 36% | 11% | 42% |
| Oppose | 19% | 17% | 19% | 15% | 15% | 19% | 19% | 19% | 16% | 19% | 17% | 13% | 23% | 8% |
| Strongly oppose | 29% | 32% | 32% | 34% | 29% | 29% | 30% | 34% | 33% | 32% | 35% | 9% | 57% | 6% |
| Don’t know | 18% | 13% | 15% | 12% | 15% | 15% | 13% | 12% | 12% | 10% | 12% | 12% | 7% | 10% |
The majority of respondents are opposed to the Government’s carbon pricing scheme, with 52% either opposed or strongly opposed to its introduction. Opposition to the scheme has moved up 1% since the last time the question was polled on 1 August 2011. Total opposition has moved up by 4% since the Government announced the scheme six months ago, from 48% total oppose to 52% total opposed.
Total support for the scheme is 37%, down 2% from 39% since the last time the question was asked on 1 August 2011. However, overall, support has risen by 2% in the six months since the Government’s announcement, from 35% to 37% total support.
Twelve per cent (12%) of respondents ‘don’t know’, up 2% from 1 August 2011, but down 6% since the announcement six months ago.
Those aged 18-24 years old are the most likely to support the scheme (46% total support). Those aged 55-64% are the most likely to oppose it (59% total oppose).
Support for Carbon Pricing Scheme with compensation and investment in renewables
Q. Would you support or oppose this carbon pricing scheme if the money paid by big polluting industries was used to compensate low and middle income earners for increased prices and to invest in renewable energy?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Total support | 50% | 77% | 27% | 84% |
| Total oppose | 37% | 12% | 61% | 9% |
| Strongly support | 20% | 41% | 4% | 40% |
| Support | 30% | 36% | 23% | 44% |
| Oppose | 15% | 8% | 23% | 4% |
| Strongly oppose | 22% | 4% | 38% | 5% |
| Don’t know | 13% | 10% | 11% | 7% |
Total support for the carbon pricing scheme rose sharply by 13 points to 50% when respondents were asked whether they supported the scheme if the money paid by big polluting industries was used to compensate low and middle income earners and to invest in renewable energy.
Conversely, total opposition for the scheme fell by 13% to 37% total opposed.
The reference to compensation and investment in renewables has the effect of shifting total support up by 10% amongst Labor voters (77%), up 14% amongst Lib/Nat voters and up 8% amongst Green voters.
Debate on the Carbon Pricing Scheme
Q. Do you think the introduction of the carbon pricing scheme has been rushed and needs more time to consider or do you think it has been discussed enough and it is now time to make a decision?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Has been rushed and needs more time to consider | 52% | 28% | 72% | 20% |
| Has been discussed enough and it is now time to make a decision | 38% | 60% | 21% | 73% |
| Don’t know | 10% | 11% | 6% | 8% |
The majority of respondents think that the carbon pricing scheme had been rushed and more time is needed to consider it (52%). Thirty eight per cent (38%) think that it has been discussed enough and it is now time to make a decision. Ten percent (10%) of respondents don’t know.
Lib/Nat voters are the most likely to think that the scheme has been rushed (72%) and Greens voters are the least likely to think so (20%).
Greens voters (73%), followed by Labor voters (60%) are more likely to think that the scheme has been discussed enough and it is now time to make a decision.
Respondents aged 65+ are far more likely to regard the scheme has having been rushed (62%). Those aged 18-14 years old (43%) and 55-64 (44%) are the most likely to think that the scheme has been discussed enough and it is now time to make a decision.
Support for Carbon Pricing Scheme
Q. Do you support or oppose the Government’s proposal to introduce a carbon pricing scheme from 1 July 2012, which will require industries to pay a tax based on the amount of carbon pollution they emit?
| 7 March | 14 March | 28 March | 18 April | 23 May | 30 May | 14 June | 11 July | 18 July | Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Total support | 35% | 38% | 34% | 39% | 41% | 38% | 38% | 35% | 39% | 39% | 77% | 12% | 82% |
| Total oppose | 48% | 49% | 51% | 49% | 44% | 48% | 49% | 53% | 49% | 51% | 14% | 83% | 11% |
| Strongly support | 9% | 12% | 12% | 13% | 14% | 14% | 13% | 11% | 15% | 15% | 33% | 2% | 42% |
| Support | 26% | 26% | 22% | 26% | 27% | 24% | 25% | 24% | 24% | 24% | 44% | 10% | 40% |
| Oppose | 19% | 17% | 19% | 15% | 15% | 19% | 19% | 19% | 16% | 19% | 9% | 26% | 6% |
| Strongly oppose | 29% | 32% | 32% | 34% | 29% | 29% | 30% | 34% | 33% | 32% | 5% | 57% | 5% |
| Don’t know | 18% | 13% | 15% | 12% | 15% | 15% | 13% | 12% | 12% | 10% | 9% | 5% | 7% |
Opinions of the Government’s carbon pricing scheme have changed little the last time this was surveyed two weeks ago. 39% support (no change) and 51% oppose (down 2%).
82% of Greens voters and 77% of Labor voters support the scheme and 83% of Liberal/National voters oppose.
Those aged under 35 are more likely to support the scheme (46% support/39% oppose) and those aged over 55 oppose (36% support/57% oppose).
Importance of Carbon Pricing Issue
Q. How important is the issue of the carbon pricing scheme in deciding which party you would vote for?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Very important | 30% | 25% | 39% | 33% |
| Somewhat important | 29% | 28% | 31% | 35% |
| A little important | 21% | 25% | 16% | 18% |
| Not at all important | 13% | 18% | 12% | 8% |
| Don’t know | 7% | 3% | 2% | 6% |
30% say that the carbon pricing scheme is very important to their voting decision and 29% say it is somewhat important. Liberal/National voters are more likely to consider it very important (39%).
The carbon pricing issue is more important to those who are opposed than those who support it. 68% of those who oppose the scheme say it is very/somewhat important compared to 58% of those who support it.
Essential Report
Two Party Preferred: 20 May 2013
In this week's report:
3Q: Latest episodes
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Essential Report with EMC’s Peter Lewis and Jackie Woods
Comments19 Sep 2012Lewis and Woods talk through this week’s polling numbers: voting intention, leader attributes, drug laws in Australia, and more…
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Are we ready for the grey revolution?
Comments12 Sep 2012Ken Morrison says our cities need to be transformed for our ageing population – and it’s not solely about nursing homes.
-
Ships, trains and submarines — can we build them here?
Comments11 Sep 2012Tim Ayres wishes Clive Palmer and other mining giants would give local manufacturers a go instead of heading overseas.
-
Do we undervalue our public sector innovations?
Comments11 Sep 2012Nadine Flood questions whether governments take our science and other publicly funded breakthroughs for granted.
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