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  • Nov, 2019

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    Climate change and bushfires

    Q. Thinking about the bushfires in Queensland and New South Wales, which of the following statements is closest to your view?

    Nov’19 Oct’13
    It is likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change and it is appropriate to publicly raise this issue 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 17% 14%
    It is unlikely the bushfires are linked to climate change 30% 48%
    Don’t know 11% 11%
    Base (n) 1,083 1,075

     

      Total Gender Age Voting Intention
    Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor Coalition Greens NET: Other
    It is likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change and it is appropriate to publicly raise this issue 43% 39% 46% 54% 41% 35% 53% 31% 73% 30%
    It is likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change but it is inappropriate to publicly raise this issue at this this time 17% 22% 12% 22% 17% 13% 19% 20% 7% 13%
    It is unlikely the bushfires are linked to climate change 30% 29% 30% 15% 29% 43% 19% 40% 6% 50%
    Don’t know 11% 9% 12% 9% 13% 9% 9% 9% 13% 7%
    Base (n) 1,083 527 556 329 369 385 342 373 93 162
    •  43% now think It likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change and it is appropriate to publicly raise this issue. When this question was last asked in 2013, 27% gave this answer.
    • The proportion of people who 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 has remained fairly constant. 17% saying this in 2019, and 14% in 2013.
    • Those least likely to think bushfires are linked to climate change and it is appropriate to publicly raise this issue are Coalition (31%) and other minor party and independent voters (31%).
  • Sep, 2012

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    Attitudes to public sector cuts

    Q. There have recently been a significant number of public service jobs cut in various states around the country.

    How do you think each of the following will fare as are result of public sector job cuts?

     

    Get better

    Get worse

    Stay much the same

    Don’t know

    The rate of unemployment

    4%

    61%

    25%

    10%

    Delivery of public services

    5%

    54%

    29%

    11%

    The welfare of disadvantaged Australians

    5%

    53%

    30%

    12%

    Retail and spending

    4%

    50%

    35%

    11%

    The welfare of all Australians

    6%

    49%

    34%

    11%

    State budgets

    18%

    42%

    27%

    13%

    The economy in general

    11%

    41%

    37%

    11%

    Governments’ ability to respond to natural disasters

    7%

    32%

    45%

    16%

    The majority of respondents believe that the following things will get worse as a result of public sector cuts: the rate of unemployment (61%), delivery of public services (54%) and the welfare of disadvantaged Australians (53%).

    The larger portion of respondents also think that retail and spending will get worse (50%), as well as the welfare of all Australians (49%), state budgets (42%) and the economy in general (41%).

    A larger portion of respondents believe that the governments’’ ability to respond to natural disasters will stay much the same (45%) than those that believe it will get worse (32%).

  • Feb, 2011

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    Climate Change and Natural Disasters

    Q. Does the extreme nature of the recent floods and cyclone make it more or less important for Australia to take action to address climate change or does it make no difference?

    Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Total more important 49% 60% 35% 83%
    Total no difference/less important 47% 38% 63% 14%
    Much more important 27% 35% 16% 59%
    A little more important 22% 25% 19% 24%
    Makes no difference 44% 37% 57% 12%
    A little less important 1% * 1% 2%
    Much less important 3% * 6%
    Don’t know 4% 2% 2% 4%

    49% believe that the extreme nature of the recent floods and cyclone make it more important for Australia to take action to address climate change and 47% think it makes no difference or is less important.

    Opinions tend to be related to voting intention – 60% of Labor voters and 83% of Greens voters believe it is more important, while 63% of Liberal/National voters think it makes no difference or is less important.  55% of respondents aged under 35 think it is more important compared to 39% of those aged 65+

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