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Attitudes towards bushfires and climate change
Q. Thinking about the bushfires in some parts of the country, which of the following statements is closest to your view?
| Jan’21 | Jan’20 | Nov’19 | Oct’13 | |
| It is likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change and it is appropriate to publicly raise this issue | 49% | 44% | 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 | 18% | 19% | 17% | 14% |
| It is unlikely the bushfires are linked to climate change | 20% | 26% | 30% | 48% |
| Don’t know | 12% | 11% | 11% | 11% |
| Base (n) | 1,084 | 1,081 | 1,083 | 1,075 |
- 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%).
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||||
| It is likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change and it is appropriate to publicly raise this issue | 49% | 49% | 50% | 49% | 51% | 48% | 58% | 42% | 65% | 42% | ||
| 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% | 20% | 16% | 26% | 17% | 12% | 15% | 20% | 24% | 17% | ||
| It is unlikely the bushfires are linked to climate change | 20% | 21% | 20% | 10% | 18% | 32% | 15% | 28% | 4% | 32% | ||
| Don’t know | 12% | 10% | 14% | 14% | 14% | 8% | 11% | 9% | 7% | 9% | ||
| Base (n) | 1,084 | 539 | 545 | 341 | 358 | 385 | 334 | 431 | 118 | 106 | ||
- 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).
Climate change acceptance
Q. Do you believe that there is fairly conclusive evidence that climate change is happening and caused by human activity or do you believe that the evidence is still not in and we may just be witnessing a normal fluctuation in the earth’s climate which happens from time to time?
| Jan’21 | Jan’20 | Nov’19 | Mar’19 | Oct’18 | Sep’17 | Aug’16 | |
| Climate change is happening and is caused by human activity | 58% | 56% | 61% | 62% | 63% | 64% | 57% |
| We are just witnessing a normal fluctuation in the earth’s climate | 32% | 32% | 28% | 27% | 25% | 24% | 26% |
| Don’t know | 10% | 13% | 11% | 12% | 13% | 12% | 17% |
| Base (n) | 1,084 | 1,081 | 1,083 | 1,089 | 1,027 | 1,011 | 1,022 |
- There has been little shift in attitudes to the acceptance of climate change over recent years. Over half of people (58%) believe climate change is happening and is caused by human activity.
- Over a third still believe we are just witnessing a normal fluctuation in the earth’s climate (32%) and 10% aren’t sure which they believe.
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||||
| Climate change is happening and is caused by human activity | 58% | 54% | 61% | 62% | 58% | 54% | 67% | 50% | 78% | 45% | ||
| We are just witnessing a normal fluctuation in the earth’s climate | 32% | 36% | 28% | 24% | 31% | 40% | 24% | 43% | 17% | 44% | ||
| Don’t know | 10% | 9% | 11% | 15% | 11% | 6% | 9% | 7% | 5% | 11% | ||
| Base (n) | 1,084 | 539 | 545 | 341 | 358 | 385 | 334 | 431 | 118 | 106 | ||
- Acceptance that climate change is happening and is caused by human activity is high across all voters, but highest among Greens voters (78%) and Labor voters (67%), followed by Coalition voters (50%) and other voters (45%).
- Climate change denial is highest among Coalition voters (43%), those over 55 (40%) and men (36%), whom are the most likely to believe we are just witnessing a normal fluctuation in the earth’s climate.
Addressing climate change
Q. As far as you know, do you think Australia is doing enough, not enough or too much to address climate change?
| Jan’21 | Jan’20 | Nov’19 | Mar’19 | Dec’18 | Oct’18 | Sep’17 | Aug’16 | |
| Not doing enough | 42% | 62% | 60% | 51% | 53% | 56% | 56% | 52% |
| Doing enough | 35% | 19% | 22% | 27% | 24% | 23% | 20% | 22% |
| Doing too much | 10% | 8% | 8% | 11% | 9% | 7% | 8% | 8% |
| Don’t know | 13% | 11% | 10% | 12% | 14% | 13% | 16% | 18% |
| Base (n) | 1,084 | 1,081 | 1,083 | 1,089 | 1,032 | 1,027 | 1,011 | 1,022 |
- Over a third (35%) of people think Australia is doing enough to address climate change, the highest proportion in the last five years.
- 42% still think not enough is being done, however this is a significant drop from last year (62%) and the years before.
- 10% think Australia is doing too much to address climate change and 13% don’t know. Both figures are similar to previous years.
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||||
| Not doing enough | 42% | 36% | 48% | 40% | 41% | 45% | 56% | 28% | 69% | 39% | ||
| Doing enough | 35% | 38% | 33% | 33% | 34% | 39% | 29% | 52% | 17% | 28% | ||
| Doing too much | 10% | 15% | 4% | 9% | 13% | 7% | 6% | 12% | 7% | 21% | ||
| Don’t know | 13% | 11% | 15% | 17% | 12% | 9% | 9% | 8% | 8% | 12% | ||
| Base (n) | 1,084 | 539 | 545 | 341 | 358 | 385 | 334 | 431 | 118 | 106 | ||
- Greens voters are the most likely to think Australia is not doing enough to address climate change (69%), followed by Labor voters (56%).
- Compared to other voters, Coalition voters are the most likely to think enough is being done (52%), and those voting for minor and independent parties are the most likely to think Australia is doing too much for climate change (21%).
- Women are more likely to think not enough is being done to address climate change than men (48% to 36% respectively).
Support for government action on climate change
Q. To what extent would you support or oppose the following policy proposals if they were adopted by the Federal Government?
| TOTAL: Support | Nov’20 | Jan’20 |
| Requiring mining companies to fund bushfire hazard reduction | 80% | 68% |
| Setting a zero-carbon pollution target for 2030 | 75% | 64% |
| Setting a zero-carbon pollution target for 2050 | 81% | 71% |
| Ban all political donations from fossil fuel companies | 72% | 62% |
| Accelerate development of new industries and jobs that are powered by renewable energy | 87% | 81% |
| New coal mines opening in Australia | 49% | – |
| The fossil fuel industry receiving taxpayer funded subsidies | 42% | – |
- Support for government action on climate change has increased since earlier this year across the policy proposals put forward.
| TOTAL: Support | TOTAL: Oppose | Strongly support | Somewhat support | Somewhat oppose | Strongly oppose | |
| Requiring mining companies to fund bushfire hazard reduction | 80% | 20% | 31% | 49% | 15% | 5% |
| Setting a zero-carbon pollution target for 2030 | 75% | 25% | 35% | 40% | 16% | 8% |
| Setting a zero-carbon pollution target for 2050 | 81% | 19% | 36% | 44% | 13% | 7% |
| Ban all political donations from fossil fuel companies | 72% | 28% | 30% | 42% | 21% | 7% |
| Accelerate development of new industries and jobs that are powered by renewable energy | 87% | 13% | 44% | 43% | 9% | 4% |
| New coal mines opening in Australia | 49% | 51% | 15% | 34% | 27% | 24% |
| The fossil fuel industry receiving taxpayer funded subsidies | 42% | 58% | 11% | 31% | 34% | 24% |
- 87% would support accelerating development of new industries and jobs that are powered by renewable energy and 80% would support requiring mining companies to fund bushfire hazard reduction.
- 81% would support setting a zero-carbon pollution target for 2050 and 75% would support setting this target for 2030.
- The most contentious issues are new coal mines opening in Australia (49% support vs 51% oppose) and the fossil fuel industry receiving taxpayer funded subsidies (42% support vs 58% oppose), where we see more of a divide between support and opposition compared to other policy proposals.
| TOTAL: Support | Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | ||||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||||
| Requiring mining companies to fund bushfire hazard reduction | 80% | 75% | 85% | 76% | 83% | 80% | 82% | 79% | 88% | 77% | ||
| Setting a zero-carbon pollution target for 2030 | 75% | 69% | 81% | 74% | 81% | 72% | 82% | 67% | 93% | 74% | ||
| Setting a zero-carbon pollution target for 2050 | 81% | 78% | 83% | 81% | 84% | 77% | 88% | 75% | 88% | 72% | ||
| Ban all political donations from fossil fuel companies | 72% | 71% | 73% | 71% | 78% | 67% | 74% | 65% | 87% | 75% | ||
| Accelerate development of new industries and jobs that are powered by renewable energy | 87% | 84% | 89% | 81% | 88% | 91% | 88% | 87% | 92% | 82% | ||
| New coal mines opening in Australia | 49% | 56% | 42% | 53% | 54% | 41% | 43% | 57% | 23% | 52% | ||
| The fossil fuel industry receiving taxpayer funded subsidies | 42% | 43% | 40% | 48% | 48% | 29% | 41% | 44% | 23% | 40% | ||
| Base (n) | 1,034 | 528 | 506 | 329 | 320 | 385 | 322 | 430 | 88 | 107 | ||
- Support for government action on climate change is higher among women compared to men, especially regarding setting a zero-carbon pollution target for 2030 (81% to 69%) and requiring mining companies to fund bushfire hazard reduction (85% to 75%). Women are less likely than men to support the opening of new coal mines (49% to 56%).
- Coalition voters have the highest support for opening new coal mines (57% compared to 52% minor party voters, 43% Labor voters and 23% Greens voters).
Relative concern for the climate change
Q. Considering everything which has happened so far this year, are you now more or less concerned about the impact of climate change than you were a year ago?
| Gender | Age Group | Location | |||||||
| Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Capital | Non-Capital | ||
| More concerned about the impact of climate change | 31% | 32% | 30% | 41% | 27% | 27% | 34% | 25% | |
| No more or less concerned about the impact of climate change | 53% | 49% | 56% | 45% | 56% | 56% | 50% | 58% | |
| Less concerned about the impact of climate change | 16% | 19% | 14% | 14% | 17% | 17% | 16% | 17% | |
| Base (n) | 1,086 | 539 | 547 | 341 | 362 | 383 | 727 | 359 | |
Addressing Climate Change
Q. As far as you know, do you think Australia is doing enough, not enough or too much to address climate change?
| Mar’20 | Nov’19 | Mar’19 | Dec’18 | Oct’18 | Sep’17 | Aug’16 | |
| Doing enough | 23% | 22% | 27% | 24% | 23% | 20% | 22% |
| Not doing enough | 55% | 60% | 51% | 53% | 56% | 56% | 52% |
| Doing too much | 9% | 8% | 11% | 9% | 7% | 8% | 8% |
| Don’t know | 13% | 10% | 12% | 14% | 13% | 16% | 18% |
| Base (n) | 1,086 | 1,083 | 1,089 | 1,032 | 1,027 | 1,011 | 1,022 |
| Gender | Age Group | Voting Intention | |||||||||
| Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | Coalition | Greens | NET: Other | ||
| Doing enough | 23% | 26% | 21% | 19% | 24% | 26% | 18% | 36% | 8% | 20% | |
| Not doing enough | 55% | 51% | 59% | 63% | 54% | 49% | 66% | 37% | 86% | 52% | |
| Doing too much | 9% | 12% | 5% | 7% | 6% | 13% | 5% | 13% | 2% | 15% | |
| Don’t know | 13% | 11% | 16% | 12% | 15% | 12% | 11% | 14% | 4% | 14% | |
| Base (n) | 1,086 | 539 | 547 | 341 | 362 | 383 | 328 | 372 | 95 | 146 | |
Support for zero-carbon pollution target for 2050
Q. To what extent would you support or oppose setting a zero-carbon pollution target for 2050 if it were adopted by the Federal Government?
| Federal Voting Intention (Lower House) | Jan’20 | |||||
| Total | Labor | Coalition | Greens | NET: Other | ||
| Strongly support | 31% | 38% | 22% | 59% | 19% | 32% |
| Somewhat support | 44% | 42% | 46% | 33% | 44% | 39% |
| Somewhat oppose | 15% | 13% | 17% | 6% | 17% | 18% |
| Strongly oppose | 11% | 7% | 15% | 2% | 20% | 12% |
| NET: Support | 75% | 80% | 68% | 91% | 63% | 71% |
| NET: Oppose | 25% | 20% | 32% | 9% | 37% | 29% |
| Base (n) | 1,090 | 336 | 390 | 104 | 146 | 1,080 |
- 75% of participants support setting a zero-carbon pollution target for 2050 if it were adopted by the Federal Government, up from 71% in January.
- The majority of all party voter support the introduction of targets. 91% of Greens voters, 80% of Labor and 68% of Coalition party voters all support the introduction of targets.
- Women (79%), capital city residents (77%) and Greens voters (91%) are most likely to support this initiative.
- Men (70%), non-capital city residents (70%) and independent/other party voters (63%) are least likely to support this initiative.
Climate Change Policy Proposals
Q. To what extent would you support or oppose the following policy proposals if they were adopted by the Federal Government?
| NET: Support | NET: Oppose | Strongly support | Somewhat support | Somewhat oppose | Strongly oppose | |
| Accelerate development of new industries and jobs that are powered by renewable energy | 81% | 19% | 41% | 40% | 12% | 7% |
| Setting a zero-carbon pollution target for 2050 | 71% | 29% | 32% | 39% | 18% | 12% |
| Requiring mining companies to fund bushfire hazard reduction | 68% | 32% | 25% | 43% | 21% | 11% |
| Remove taxpayer funded subsidies to the fossil fuel industry | 68% | 32% | 30% | 38% | 22% | 11% |
| Setting a zero-carbon pollution target for 2030 | 64% | 36% | 26% | 38% | 21% | 15% |
| Ban all political donations from fossil fuel companies | 62% | 38% | 28% | 34% | 25% | 13% |
| Prevention of new coal mines opening in Australia | 62% | 38% | 27% | 35% | 23% | 16% |
| Voting Intention | |||||
| NET: SUPPORT | Total | Labor | Liberal + National | Greens | NET: Other |
| Accelerate development of new industries and jobs that are powered by renewable energy | 81% | 86% | 75% | 87% | 77% |
| Setting a zero-carbon pollution target for 2050 | 71% | 81% | 56% | 89% | 62% |
| Requiring mining companies to fund bushfire hazard reduction | 68% | 78% | 54% | 76% | 68% |
| Remove taxpayer funded subsidies to the fossil fuel industry | 68% | 77% | 56% | 83% | 64% |
| Setting a zero-carbon pollution target for 2030 | 64% | 77% | 47% | 87% | 52% |
| Ban all political donations from fossil fuel companies | 62% | 72% | 48% | 79% | 57% |
| Prevention of new coal mines opening in Australia | 62% | 70% | 48% | 84% | 51% |
| Base (n) | 1,080 | 351 | 342 | 110 | 156 |
- 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.
COVID-19 RESEARCH
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Two Party Preferred:
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45%
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In this week's report:
- Performance of Scott Morrison
- Performance of Anthony Albanese
- Preferred Prime Minister
- Top Federal Government priorities for 2021
- Uptake of a Covid-19 vaccine
- Perceptions of change in the standard of living for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Changing views towards Australia Day
- Support towards a separate national day
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