climate change, earth’s climate, Essential Report, Greens, Labor, Liberal, Nationals, Polling, polls, science
Q. Which of the following statements best reflects your attitude to doubts recently expressed by opponents of action on climate change about the science evidence?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Doubts are valid because nothing is certain in science | 15% | 14% | 18% | 9% |
| Doubts are valid because man made climate change has not been proven | 29% | 15% | 43% | 11% |
| Doubts are misleading because the science evidence of man made climate change is overwhelming | 21% | 33% | 14% | 36% |
| Doubts are misleading because the science evidence has been rigorously tested and reviewed | 11% | 15% | 7% | 27% |
| Don’t know | 23% | 24% | 17% | 17% |
Overall, 44% believe doubts about the science evidence for climate change are valid (mainly because man made climate change has not been proven) and 33% think doubts are misleading (mainly because the science evidence of man made climate change is overwhelming).
Those most likely to think the doubts are valid were Liberal/National voters (61%), men (50%), aged 55+ (59%) and incomes under $600pw (54%).
Those most likely to think doubts are misleading were Greens voters (63%), Labor voters (48%) and those on incomes over $1,600pw (41%).
climate change, earth’s climate, Essential Report, Greens, Labor, Liberal, Nationals, Polling, polls
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?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Men | Women | Aged 18-34 | Aged 35-54 | Aged 55+ | Nov 09 | Dec 10 | 30 May 11 | ||
| Climate change is happening and is caused by human activity | 50% | 64% | 34% | 83% | 45% | 54% | 60% | 49% | 38% | 53% | 45% | 52% | |
| We are just witnessing a normal fluctuation in the earth’s climate | 39% | 28% | 55% | 10% | 44% | 33% | 27% | 37% | 55% | 34% | 36% | 36% | |
| Don’t know | 12% | 9% | 11% | 6% | 12% | 12% | 13% | 14% | 8% | 13% | 19% | 12% |
50% agree that climate change is happening and is caused by human activity and 39% believe that we may just be witnessing a normal fluctuation in the earth’s climate. This is little changed since this question was last asked in May.
By age groups, those aged under 35 split 60%/27% and those aged 55+ split 38%/55%.
climate change, Climate Change action, Essential Report, Greens, Labor, Liberal, Nationals, Polling, polls
Q. How confident are you that climate change can be averted if we take action now?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Very confident | 13% | 16% | 11% | 18% |
| Somewhat confident | 48% | 52% | 45% | 45% |
| Not very confident | 30% | 27% | 32% | 30% |
| Not at all confident | 6% | 2% | 10% | 5% |
| Don’t know | 2% | 3% | 1% | 3% |
*Based on those who believe “climate change is happening”
Of those who believe climate change is happening, 61% are very or somewhat confident that climate change can be averted if we take action now. A majority of all voter groups are very/somewhat confident.
By age, 68% of aged under 35 are confident compared to 58% of those aged 55+.
2PP, asylum seekers, climate change, economy, Election, Election Issues, Essential Report, fair industrial relations system, Greens, Labor, leadership, Liberal, Nationals, Polling, polls, voting, Voting intention
Q. Which are the three most important issues in deciding how you would vote at a Federal election?
| One | Two | Three | Total | 24 Jan 11 | 11 Oct 10 | 25 Jan 10 | |
| Management of the economy | 34% | 18% | 9% | 61% | 65% | 62% | 63% |
| Ensuring a quality education for all children | 6% | 10% | 10% | 26% | 26% | 32% | 23% |
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system | 15% | 15% | 19% | 49% | 49% | 48% | 48% |
| Protecting the environment | 4% | 6% | 5% | 15% | 13% | 12% | 16% |
| A fair industrial relations system | 2% | 3% | 3% | 8% | 10% | 11% | * |
| Political leadership | 6% | 6% | 5% | 17% | 16% | 16% | 23% |
| Addressing climate change | 6% | 4% | 5% | 15% | 10% | 11% | 16% |
| Controlling interest rates | 3% | 5% | 5% | 13% | 21% | 17% | 15% |
| Australian jobs and protection of local industries | 9% | 11% | 12% | 32% | 30% | 30% | 33% |
| Ensuring a quality water supply | 1% | 1% | 3% | 5% | 6% | 6% | 12% |
| Housing affordability | 4% | 6% | 6% | 16% | 16% | 17% | 14% |
| Ensuring a fair taxation system | 3% | 6% | 8% | 17% | 18% | 16% | 14% |
| Security and the war on terrorism | 2% | 2% | 4% | 8% | 5% | 6% | 9% |
| Treatment of asylum seekers | 1% | 2% | 2% | 5% | 5% | 5% | * |
| Managing population growth | 2% | 4% | 6% | 12% | 11% | 10% | * |
*Not asked
61% of people surveyed rated management of the economy as one of their three most important issues, followed by 49% ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system and 32% Australian jobs and protection of local industries.
Since January, there has been an increase in the importance of addressing climate change (from 10% to 15%) and a decrease in the importance of controlling interest rates (from 21% to 13%).
approach to asylum seekers, asylum seekers, climate change, Election Issues, Essential Report, fair industrial relations system, federal politics, Greens, Labor, Liberal, management of the economy, Nationals, political leadership, Polling, polls, population growth, protecting the environment, quality education for all children, quality of Australia’s health system, Security, taxation
Q. Which are the three most important issues in deciding how you would vote at a Federal election?
| Total | Labor | Liberal/ National | Green | |
| Management of the economy | 61% | 60% | 76% | 28% |
| Ensuring a quality education for all children | 26% | 29% | 24% | 27% |
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system | 49% | 50% | 50% | 51% |
| Protecting the environment | 15% | 17% | 10% | 52% |
| A fair industrial relations system | 8% | 12% | 4% | 4% |
| Political leadership | 17% | 16% | 20% | 16% |
| Addressing climate change | 15% | 23% | 6% | 45% |
| Controlling interest rates | 13% | 15% | 13% | 6% |
| Australian jobs and protection of local industries | 32% | 28% | 36% | 12% |
| Ensuring a quality water supply | 5% | 5% | 3% | 7% |
| Housing affordability | 16% | 16% | 13% | 16% |
| Ensuring a fair taxation system | 17% | 14% | 19% | 16% |
| Security and the war on terrorism | 8% | 4% | 13% | 1% |
| Treatment of asylum seekers | 5% | 3% | 5% | 12% |
| Managing population growth | 12% | 12% | 12% | 9% |
There were few substantial differences between voters on issues they considered important. Compared to the average, Labor voters are more likely to rate addressing climate change (23%) as important.
Liberal/National voters attach more importance to management of the economy (76%) and security and the war on terrorism (13%) while Greens voters are more likely to nominate protecting the environment (52%), addressing climate change (45%) and treatment of asylum seekers (12%).
climate change, earth’s climate, environment, Essential Report, federal politics, Greens, Labor, Liberal, Nationals, Polling, polls
Q. Do you agree 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?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Nov 09 | Dec 10 | ||
| Climate change is happening and is caused by human activity | 52% | 71% | 34% | 78% | 53% | 45% | |
| We are just witnessing a normal fluctuation in the earth’s climate | 36% | 20% | 54% | 14% | 34% | 36% | |
| Don’t know | 12% | 8% | 12% | 8% | 13% | 19% |
52% agree that climate change is happening and is caused by human activity and 36% believe that we may just be witnessing a normal fluctuation in the earth’s climate. This is a significant increase in the belief that climate change is happening and caused by human activity since December last year (and a return to the levels recorded in November 2009).
By age groups, those aged under 35 split 64%/24% and those aged 55+ split 47%/48%.
carbon pricing scheme, Carbon Tax, climate change, federal politics, Greens, Labor, Liberal, Nationals, tax
Q. Thinking about Carbon Tax, how would you expect it will be paid? (This question has been commissioned by Network Ten)
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Men | Women | Age
18-34 |
Aged
35-54 |
Aged 55+ | |
| Industries will have to absorb the costs | 14% | 17% | 9% | 22% | 14% | 13% | 16% | 14% | 10% |
| Consumers will end up paying it because industry will increase prices | 63% | 54% | 79% | 40% | 63% | 63% | 59% | 65% | 65% |
| Industries will pay and consumers will be compensated for any price increases | 13% | 17% | 8% | 32% | 13% | 13% | 12% | 11% | 16% |
| Don’t know | 10% | 11% | 4% | 6% | 10% | 11% | 13% | 10% | 8% |
Nearly two thirds (63%) of respondents believe that consumers will end up paying the carbon tax because industry will increase prices – 14% think industries will have to absorb the costs and 13% think industries will pay but consumers will be compensated for price increases.
Greens voters are least likely to think that consumers will end up paying for it (40%). Otherwise perceptions are similar across demographic groups.
Of those who think consumers will end up paying, 30% support the scheme and 58% oppose.
Of those who think industry will absorb the costs, 74% support the scheme and 21% oppose.
Of those who think Industries will pay and consumers will be compensated, 74% support the scheme and 19% oppose.
climate change, Coalition, EMC, environment, ER, Essential Media, Essential Report, Greens, Labor, Liberal, Polling, polls, tony abbott
Q. As far as you know, do Tony Abbott and the Coalition support action to address climate change or are they opposed to taking any action?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Support action to address climate change | 36% | 27% | 59% | 31% |
| Are opposed to any action to address climate change | 33% | 47% | 17% | 48% |
| Don’t know | 29% | 26% | 24% | 21% |
Overall, respondents were divided over the position of Tony Abbott and the Coalition on climate change – 36% believe they support action to address climate change and 33% think are they opposed to taking any action.
Those that intend to vote Lib/Nat were far more likely to believe that Tony Abbott and the Coalition support action to address climate change (59%).
Those that intend to vote for Labor (47%) or the Green (48%) were more likely to state that Tony Abbott and the Coalition are opposed to any action to address climate change.
Males (42%) were more likely than females (34%) to state that Tony Abbott and the Coalition support action to address climate change.
Females (39%) were more likely than males (19%) to state ‘Don’t know.’