climate change, coal mines, fossil fuels, policy proposals, renewable energy
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% | – |
| 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% |
| 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 | ||
Coal, energy, fossil fuels, power, power plants, renewable
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 |
Coal, energy, fossil fuels, power generation, renewable
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 |
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.