Climate change and bushfires
Q. Thinking about the bushfires in Queensland and New South Wales, which of the following statements is closest to your view?
| Nov’19 | Oct’13 | |
| It is likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change and it is appropriate to publicly raise this issue | 43% | 27% |
| It is likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change but it is inappropriate to publicly raise this issue at this this time | 17% | 14% |
| It is unlikely the bushfires are linked to climate change | 30% | 48% |
| Don’t know | 11% | 11% |
| Base (n) | 1,083 | 1,075 |
| Total | Gender | Age | Voting Intention | |||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | Coalition | Greens | NET: Other | ||
| It is likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change and it is appropriate to publicly raise this issue | 43% | 39% | 46% | 54% | 41% | 35% | 53% | 31% | 73% | 30% |
| It is likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change but it is inappropriate to publicly raise this issue at this this time | 17% | 22% | 12% | 22% | 17% | 13% | 19% | 20% | 7% | 13% |
| It is unlikely the bushfires are linked to climate change | 30% | 29% | 30% | 15% | 29% | 43% | 19% | 40% | 6% | 50% |
| Don’t know | 11% | 9% | 12% | 9% | 13% | 9% | 9% | 9% | 13% | 7% |
| Base (n) | 1,083 | 527 | 556 | 329 | 369 | 385 | 342 | 373 | 93 | 162 |
- 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%).
Likelihood of extreme events
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?
|
Total |
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
|
| Total more likely |
63% |
72% |
49% |
86% |
65% |
|
| Total less likely |
1% |
1% |
* |
2% |
3% |
|
| A lot more likely |
33% |
41% |
19% |
61% |
31% |
|
| A little more likely |
30% |
31% |
30% |
25% |
34% |
|
| About the same |
33% |
26% |
47% |
11% |
29% |
|
| A little less likely |
1% |
1% |
– |
2% |
2% |
|
| A lot less likely |
* |
– |
* |
– |
1% |
|
| Don’t know |
4% |
1% |
4% |
1% |
4% |
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.
Climate change and bushfires
Q. Thinking about the bushfires in New South Wales, which of the following statements is closest to your view?
|
Total |
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
|
| It likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change and it is appropriate to publicly raise this issue |
27% |
41% |
13% |
64% |
22% |
|
| It likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change but it is inappropriate to publicly raise this issue at this time |
14% |
14% |
15% |
9% |
9% |
|
| It is unlikely the bushfires are linked to climate change |
48% |
37% |
63% |
19% |
62% |
|
| Don’t know |
11% |
8% |
9% |
7% |
7% |
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%).
Essential Report
Two Party Preferred: 14 May 2019
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