Q. Thinking about the bushfires in some parts of the country, which of the following statements is closest to your view?

•  Just under half (49%) of people think it is likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change and it is appropriate to publicly raise this issue, the highest proportion in the last three years (up from 44% this time last year). Correspondingly, fewer think it is unlikely the bushfires are linked to climate change (20%, down from 26%).
• About the same amount of people as previous years think it is likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change, but it is inappropriate to publicly raise this issue at this this time (18%).

•  About a third (32%) of those over 55 think it is unlikely the bushfires are linked to climate change, the highest among the three age brackets.
• More people aged 18-34 think it is likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change, but it is inappropriate to publicly raise this issue at this this time, than those aged 35-54 and those over 55 (26% to 17% and 12% respectively).
• The view that it is likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change and it is appropriate to publicly raise this issue is high; this is highest among Greens voters (65%), followed by Labor voters (58%), Coalition voters (42%) and other voters (42%).
• Minor and independent party voters and Coalition voters are the most likely to think it is unlikely the bushfires are linked to climate change (32% and 28% respectively).

Q. To what extent would you support or oppose the following policy proposals if they were adopted by the Federal Government?

• 81% of participants support the accelerated development of new industries and jobs that are powered by renewable energy and 71% support a zero-carbon pollution target to be set for 2050.
• Support for all policies was higher among Labor and greens voters, and lower among Coalition.

Q. Do you approve or disapprove of Scott Morrison/Gladys Berejiklian/Daniel Andrews’s handling of the bushfire crisis?

• Around a third (32%) of people approve of Scott Morrison’s handing of the current bushfires crisis, with just 8% strongly approving of his performance. 36% strongly disapprove of his performance.
• Comparatively, state premiers Berejiklian and Andrews have performed well, with over half of people in each state approving of their handling of the crisis (55% in NSW and 58% in Victoria).
• The majority of Scott Morrison’s approval is coming from within his own supporter base, with 64% of intended Coalition voters approving of his performance during the crisis. Just 11% of Labor voters and 23% of those voting for another party approve of his performance.

Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the current bushfire season in Australia?

• 78% of people agree that the Federal Government was underprepared for the risk of bushfires this season.
• Around half (52%) disagree with the Prime Minister that Australia has always had bushfires like these.

Q. Thinking about the bushfires in Queensland and New South Wales, which of the following statements is closest to your view?

•  43% now think It likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change and it is appropriate to publicly raise this issue. When this question was last asked in 2013, 27% gave this answer.
• The proportion of people who think it is likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change but it is inappropriate to publicly raise this issue at this this time has remained fairly constant. 17% saying this in 2019, and 14% in 2013.
• Those least likely to think bushfires are linked to climate change and it is appropriate to publicly raise this issue are Coalition (31%) and other minor party and independent voters (31%).

Q. Do you think that, over the next few years, Australia will be more or less likely to experience severe bushfires and extreme weather events like floods and cyclones?

63% think that sever bushfires and extreme weather events will be more likely over the next few years.

86% of Greens voters and 63% of Labor voters think they will be more likely. However, 47% of Liberal/National voters think they will be neither more likely nor less likely.

68% of women think they will be more likely compared to 56% of men.

Q. Thinking about the bushfires in New South Wales, which of the following statements is closest to your view?

41% think that the NSW bushfires are likely to be linked to climate change and 48% think it unlikely they are linked to climate change. 27% think they are linked and it is appropriate to raise this issue while 14% think they are linked but it is inappropriate to raise this issue at this time.

Those most likely to think the bushfires and climate change are linked were aged under 35 (49%), Labor voters (55%), Greens voters (73%) and those with university education (53%).

Those who think it is unlikely they are linked tended to be aged 55+ (61%), Liberal/National voters (63%) and those who had not completed secondary education (60%).