Support for Carbon Pricing
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 | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Total support | 35% | 38% | 34% | 39% | 41% | 38% | 38% | 35% | 65% | 15% | 73% |
| Total oppose | 48% | 49% | 51% | 49% | 44% | 48% | 49% | 53% | 20% | 79% | 21% |
| Strongly support | 9% | 12% | 12% | 13% | 14% | 14% | 13% | 11% | 23% | 3% | 35% |
| Support | 26% | 26% | 22% | 26% | 27% | 24% | 25% | 24% | 42% | 12% | 38% |
| Oppose | 19% | 17% | 19% | 15% | 15% | 19% | 19% | 19% | 15% | 23% | 16% |
| Strongly oppose | 29% | 32% | 32% | 34% | 29% | 29% | 30% | 34% | 5% | 56% | 5% |
| Don’t know | 18% | 13% | 15% | 12% | 15% | 15% | 13% | 12% | 16% | 7% | 7% |
35% (down 3%) support the Government’s proposed carbon pricing scheme and 53% (up 4%) oppose. It is supported by 65% of Labor voters and 73% of Greens voters but opposed by 79% of coalition voters.
By age, those aged under 35 split 40% support/43% oppose, and those aged 55+ split 33% support/59% oppose.
- note that these result reflect opinions prior to the announcement of the details of carbon pricing.
Opinion of Carbon Pricing Proposal
Q. Do you support or oppose the Government’s recent announcement 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 | Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Total support | 35% | 38% | 34% | 39% | 63% | 21% | 75% |
| Total oppose | 48% | 49% | 51% | 49% | 25% | 72% | 17% |
| Strongly support | 9% | 12% | 12% | 13% | 25% | 4% | 37% |
| Support | 26% | 26% | 22% | 26% | 38% | 17% | 38% |
| Oppose | 19% | 17% | 19% | 15% | 10% | 18% | 10% |
| Strongly oppose | 29% | 32% | 32% | 34% | 15% | 54% | 7% |
| Don’t know | 18% | 13% | 15% | 12% | 12% | 7% | 8% |
Support for the Government’s carbon pricing scheme has recovered to similar levels recorded in mid-March.
Since this question was asked 3 weeks ago, support has increased to 39% (+5%) and opposition dropped to 49% (-2%).
Strongest support was shown by those aged under 35 (42%) and those on incomes over $1,600 pw (46%).
Those most strongly opposed were aged 55+ (58%).
Opinion of Carbon Pricing Proposal with Compensation
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 and small businesses for increased prices?
| 14 March | Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Total support | 54% | 51% | 78% | 34% | 80% |
| Total oppose | 30% | 33% | 11% | 51% | 7% |
| Strongly support | 17% | 17% | 30% | 8% | 35% |
| Support | 37% | 34% | 43% | 25% | 44% |
| Oppose | 14% | 12% | 7% | 18% | 8% |
| Strongly oppose | 16% | 21% | 6% | 37% | 5% |
| Don’t know | 17% | 16% | 14% | 13% | 8% |
With compensation for low and middle income earners and small businesses, support for the Government’s carbon pricing scheme increased to 51% and opposition dropped to 33%. This is a slight fall in support since this question was last asked in mid-March.
With compensation, support among Labor voters increases 15% to 78% and for Liberal/National voters increases 13% to 34%.
Support among men increased from 39% to 47% and for women increases from 38% to 55%.
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