Carbon Pricing, carbon pricing scheme, Essential Media, Essential Report, Greens, Labor, Liberal, Nationals, Polling, polls
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 | 18 April | Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Total support | 35% | 38% | 34% | 39% | 41% | 63% | 20% | 86% |
| Total oppose | 48% | 49% | 51% | 49% | 44% | 19% | 75% | 9% |
| Strongly support | 9% | 12% | 12% | 13% | 14% | 22% | 4% | 47% |
| Support | 26% | 26% | 22% | 26% | 27% | 41% | 16% | 39% |
| Oppose | 19% | 17% | 19% | 15% | 15% | 10% | 23% | 4% |
| Strongly oppose | 29% | 32% | 32% | 34% | 29% | 9% | 52% | 5% |
| Don’t know | 18% | 13% | 15% | 12% | 15% | 19% | 5% | 5% |
41% (+2%) support the introduction of a carbon pricing scheme and 44% (-5%) oppose. This represents a 7% shift in opinion in favour of a carbon pricing scheme since last month and is the highest level of support and lowest level of opposition since the scheme was announced.
Women support the scheme 44%/39%, while men oppose 51%/38%. Younger people tend to support the scheme (aged under 35 – 47% support/35% oppose) while older respondents strongly oppose (aged 55+ – 35% support/55% oppose)
carbon pollution, Carbon Pricing Proposal, carbon pricing scheme, Carbon Tax, EMC, ER, Essential Media, Essential Report, Greens, Labor, Liberal, Nationals, Polling, polls
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%).
carbon compensation, carbon pollution, Carbon Pricing Proposal, carbon pricing scheme, Carbon Tax, EMC, ER, Essential Media, Essential Report, Greens, Labor, Liberal, Nationals, Polling, polls
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%.
carbon pollution, carbon pricing scheme, Carbon Tax, Carbon Tax Compensation, EMC, ER, Essential Media, Essential Report, Greens, Labor, Liberal, Nationals, Polling, polls
Q. If the Government compensated households by cutting income tax and increasing welfare payments, would you be more likely or less likely to support the proposed carbon tax?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Men | Women | Age
18-34 |
Aged
35-54 |
Aged 55+ | |
| Total more likely | 38% | 58% | 26% | 49% | 37% | 40% | 43% | 38% | 34% |
| Total less likely | 16% | 10% | 23% | 14% | 20% | 12% | 16% | 16% | 15% |
| Much more likely | 14% | 26% | 7% | 20% | 15% | 14% | 16% | 15% | 12% |
| Somewhat more likely | 24% | 32% | 19% | 29% | 22% | 25% | 27% | 23% | 22% |
| Somewhat less likely | 5% | 6% | 6% | 4% | 7% | 3% | 6% | 6% | 4% |
| Much less likely | 11% | 4% | 17% | 10% | 13% | 8% | 10% | 10% | 11% |
| Makes no difference | 35% | 24% | 46% | 26% | 35% | 35% | 26% | 36% | 46% |
| Don’t know | 11% | 8% | 5% | 11% | 8% | 13% | 15% | 10% | 6% |
38% of respondents agreed they would be more likely to support the proposed carbon tax if the Government compensated households by cutting income tax and increasing welfare payments, 16% said they would be less likely to support it and 35% said it would make no difference.
Those most likely to support the tax were Labor voters (58%), Greens voters (49%) and younger respondents (43% of people aged 18-34). 46% of Coalition voters and 46% of those aged 55+ said it would make no difference to their view.
carbon pollution, Carbon Pricing, carbon pricing scheme, Carbon Tax, EMC, ER, Essential Media, Essential Report, Greens, Labor, Liberal, Nationals, Polling, polls
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 | Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Total support | 35% | 38% | 34% | 63% | 14% | 56% |
| Total oppose | 48% | 49% | 51% | 23% | 80% | 24% |
| Strongly support | 9% | 12% | 12% | 22% | 4% | 29% |
| Support | 26% | 26% | 22% | 41% | 10% | 27% |
| Oppose | 19% | 17% | 19% | 12% | 24% | 13% |
| Strongly oppose | 29% | 32% | 32% | 11% | 56% | 11% |
| Don’t know | 18% | 13% | 15% | 14% | 7% | 19% |
Support for the Government’s carbon pricing scheme has fallen over the last 2 weeks. 34% now support the scheme and 51% are opposed.
Opinion has polarized among voters for the major parties. Support among Labor voters has increased from 55% to 63% while opposition from Coalition voters has increased from 73% to 80%. Support has fallen among Greens voters – 2 weeks ago they split 78% support/11% oppose compared to this week’s 56% support/24% oppose.
carbon emitions, carbon pollution, carbon pricing scheme, Carbon Tax, EMC, ER, Essential Media, Essential Report, Greens, Labor, Liberal, peter lewis, Polling, polls, polluters, The Drum
First published on The Drum: 15/03/2011
Context is everything. All of a sudden Labor’s political predicament does not seem as dire; no-one is dead or missing; nuclear reactors aren’t melting down; the only after-shocks are electoral.
The enormity of the Japan catastrophe wipes everything else from public consciousness, allowing a wounded prime minister and her team to step back from the limelight, reflect and regroup.
As this week’s Essential Report shows, there is a path to repairing the damage the government has suffered and a way of setting up a debate that could, in the long-term, see it regain the political initiative.
Like so much in politics, the secret lies in the questions you ask. Ask whether people support a price on carbon and the answer is a decisive ‘no’.
carbon pollution, Carbon Pricing, carbon pricing scheme, Carbon Tax, EMC, ER, Essential Media, Essential Report, Greens, Labor, Liberal, Polling, polls
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?
| Last week | This week | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Total support | 35% | 38% | 55% | 20% | 78% |
| Total oppose | 48% | 49% | 32% | 73% | 11% |
| Strongly support | 9% | 12% | 17% | 4% | 39% |
| Support | 26% | 26% | 38% | 16% | 39% |
| Oppose | 19% | 17% | 17% | 20% | 6% |
| Strongly oppose | 29% | 32% | 15% | 53% | 5% |
| Don’t know | 18% | 13% | 13% | 8% | 11% |
Support for the Government’s proposed carbon pricing scheme has increased a little since this question was asked last week – from 35% to 38%. The change is due to some previously “undecided” respondents forming a view – opposition has increased 1% and “don’t know” decreased by 5%.
There is majority support from Labor and Greens voters while 73% of Liberal/National voters are opposed.
carbon pollution, Carbon Pricing, carbon pricing scheme, Carbon Tax, EMC, ER, Essential Media, Essential Report, Greens, Labor, Liberal, Polling, polls
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?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Total support | 54% | 78% | 34% | 80% |
| Total oppose | 30% | 11% | 51% | 7% |
| Strongly support | 17% | 29% | 6% | 39% |
| Support | 37% | 49% | 28% | 41% |
| Oppose | 14% | 8% | 22% | 3% |
| Strongly oppose | 16% | 3% | 29% | 4% |
| Don’t know | 17% | 11% | 15% | 13% |
There was a substantial shift in opinion of the Government’s carbon pricing scheme when respondents were told that the money paid by big polluting industries would be used to compensate low and middle income earners and small businesses for increased prices.
Support increased from 38% to 54% and opposition declined from 49% to 30%. The major shift occurred with Labor voters where support increased by 23% to 78%. Support from Liberal/National voters increased from 20% to 34% while opposition declined 22% to 51%.