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).
Government support for coal-fired power plants
Q. Which of the following statements regarding the future of coal is closest to your view?
Total | Federal Voting Intention (Lower House) | ||||
Labor | Coalition | Greens | NET: Other | ||
The government should be working to shut down mines and coal-fired power plants as soon as possible | 32% | 36% | 21% | 62% | 27% |
The government should let the coal mining industry and coal-fired power plants continue operating as long as they are profitable, but not subsidise them or support the expansion of the industry | 47% | 45% | 52% | 28% | 50% |
The government should subsidise coal-fired power plants to keep them going and provide financial support for new mines and other projects in the coal industry | 21% | 19% | 27% | 10% | 22% |
Base (n) | 1,090 | 336 | 390 | 104 | 146 |
- 47% of participants say that letting the coal mining industry and coal-fired power plants continue operating as long as they are profitable, but not subsidise them or support the expansion of the industry is closest to their view.
- A third (32%) say working to shut down mines and coal-fired power plants as soon as possible is closest to their view, with Greens voters most likely to select that option (62%).
- Coalition voters are most likely to say subsidising coal-fired power plants to keep them going and provide financial support for new mines and other projects in the coal industry, is closest to their view (27%).
Attitudes towards coal
Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about coal?
NET: Agree | NET: Disagree | Strongly agree | Somewhat agree | Somewhat disagree | Strongly disagree | Unsure | |
Improvements in renewable energy will mean that burning coal to generate electricity will become less necessary | 75% | 14% | 43% | 32% | 8% | 6% | 11% |
Advances in technology and international action on climate change will mean coal becomes uneconomical to extract in the future | 65% | 18% | 28% | 36% | 12% | 6% | 17% |
If we’re serious about dealing with climate change, Australia needs to get out of coal as soon as possible | 64% | 24% | 34% | 29% | 13% | 11% | 13% |
Even if Australia stops exporting coal for electricity generation, it should still export coal for steel production | 61% | 19% | 26% | 36% | 12% | 7% | 20% |
Rather than digging it all up now, Australia should leave its coal resources in the ground to use when it becomes more valuable in the future | 53% | 29% | 21% | 33% | 20% | 8% | 18% |
NET: Agree | Age | Federal Voting Intention (Lower House) | ||||||
Total | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | Coalition | Greens | NET: Other | |
Improvements in renewable energy will mean that burning coal to generate electricity will become less necessary | 75% | 80% | 76% | 70% | 82% | 70% | 83% | 68% |
Advances in technology and international action on climate change will mean coal becomes uneconomical to extract in the future | 65% | 74% | 61% | 61% | 73% | 60% | 70% | 53% |
If we’re serious about dealing with climate change, Australia needs to get out of coal as soon as possible | 64% | 75% | 65% | 52% | 72% | 54% | 87% | 49% |
Even if Australia stops exporting coal for electricity generation, it should still export coal for steel production | 61% | 61% | 64% | 59% | 60% | 72% | 38% | 59% |
Rather than digging it all up now, Australia should leave its coal resources in the ground to use when it becomes more valuable in the future | 53% | 64% | 53% | 44% | 57% | 50% | 56% | 45% |
Base (n) | 1,090 | 341 | 374 | 375 | 336 | 390 | 104 | 146 |
- Three-quarters of participants (75%) agree that improvements in renewable energy will mean that burning coal to generate electricity will become less necessary, 65% agree that advances in technology and international action on climate change will mean coal becomes uneconomical to extract in the future and 64% agree if we’re serious about dealing with climate change, Australia needs to get out of coal as soon as possible.
- Participants aged 18-34, those with a university education and Greens or Labor voters are more likely to agree with these statements than those over 55, those with a secondary school education and Coalition or other voters (other minor party or independent candidate).
- Coalition voters are most likely to agree that even if Australia stops exporting coal for electricity generation, it should still export coal for steel production (72%), compared to 38% of Greens voters.
- Capital city residents are more likely to agree if we’re serious about dealing with climate change, Australia needs to get out of coal as soon as possible (67%) and rather than digging it all up now, Australia should leave its coal resources in the ground to use when it becomes more valuable in the future (56%); than non-capital city residents (56% and 47% respectively).
Renewables vs fossil fuels
Q. As far as you know, which energy source – renewable energy like solar and wind OR fossil fuels like coal and gas – is better for each of the following?
|
Renewable energy better |
Fossil fuels better |
No difference |
Don’t know |
The environment |
77% |
5% |
8% |
11% |
The economy |
39% |
29% |
14% |
18% |
Jobs |
36% |
25% |
19% |
20% |
Electricity costs |
45% |
19% |
14% |
22% |
Overall, respondents think that renewable energy is better for the environment (77%), electricity costs (45%), the economy (39%) and jobs (36%).
Older respondents tended to have a slightly more positive view of renewable energy – for those aged 55+, 47% believe renewables are better for the economy.

COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
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Two Party Preferred:
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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