carbon pollution, carbon pricing scheme, Carbon Tax, climate, climate change, Coalition, Coalition voters, EMC, ER, Essential Media, Essential Report, government, IPCC, Labor, Labor voters, peter lewis, Resources Rent Tax, The Drum
First published on The Drum: 08/03/2011
The media works in eight-hour news cycles, politicians live and die by three-year cycles, while the planet’s climate is working on a significantly longer time frame.
The way these three cycles interplay over the next few months will determine not only the outcome of the next federal election but whether Australia will be a beneficiary or a victim of the shift in energy use that climate change will inevitably require*.
As this week’s Essential Report shows the Government has taken a short-term hammering after it’s decision to move on a carbon price. Not only has the Government failed to win popular support for its carbon pricing scheme, this has translated into a 4 per cent turnaround in the Two Party Preferred.
Of particular concern to Labor would be the high level of strong opposition, compared to strong support for the plan and the fact that barely half of Labor voters are backing the scheme.
carbon pollution, Carbon Pricing, carbon pricing scheme, Carbon Tax, EMC, ER, 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?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Total support | 35% | 54% | 18% | 75% |
| Total oppose | 48% | 25% | 72% | 13% |
| Strongly support | 9% | 16% | 2% | 34% |
| Support | 26% | 38% | 16% | 41% |
| Oppose | 19% | 13% | 24% | 10% |
| Strongly oppose | 29% | 12% | 48% | 3% |
| Don’t know | 18% | 21% | 9% | 11% |
35% support the Government’s recent announcement to introduce a carbon pricing scheme and 48% oppose. The scheme is strongly supported by Greens voters (75%) and has majority support from Labor voters (54%) but is strongly opposed by Coalition voters (72%).
Respondents aged under 35 were split 36% support/37% oppose while those aged 55+ were more strongly opposed (36% support/56% oppose).