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Coal, energy, fossil fuels, power, power plants, renewable
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%).
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20 August 2012, 200812, cost increase, electricity, Federal Government, power, power companies, responsible, state government
Responsibility for Power Prices
Q. Who do you think is mainly responsible for electricity and gas prices?
Total
Vote Labor
Vote Lib/Nat
Vote Greens
Increased a lot
Increased a moderate amount
Increased a little
Stayed the same or decreased
The Federal Government 28%
16%
40%
18%
40%
22%
19%
22%
The State Government 23%
27%
21%
28%
23%
28%
21%
18%
The power companies 37%
50%
28%
42%
32%
42%
44%
38%
Don’t know 12%
7%
10%
12%
6%
9%
17%
21%
37% think the power companies are mainly responsible for electricity and gas prices, 28% think the Federal Government is mainly responsible and 23% think the State Governments are mainly responsible.
Those who think power prices have increased a lot are more likely to think the Federal Government is mainly responsible (40%), while those who think prices have increased a moderate amount, a little or not at all think the power companies are mainly responsible.
50% of Labor voters think the power companies are mainly responsible and 40% of Liberal/National voters think the Federal Government is mainly responsible.
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electricity, EMC, Essential Report, Greens, Labor, Liberal, Nuclear Power, nuclear power plants, power
Nuclear Power
Q. Do you support or oppose Australia developing nuclear power plants for the generation of electricity?
27 Jan 09 20 Dec 10 Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens Total support 43% 43% 41% 56% 25% Total oppose 35% 37% 41% 31% 65% Strongly support 14% 16% 16% 22% 5% Support 29% 27% 25% 34% 20% Oppose 21% 21% 23% 20% 33% Strongly oppose 14% 16% 18% 11% 32% Don’t know 22% 19% 17% 13% 10% 43% support Australia developing nuclear power plants for the generation of electricity and 35% oppose. These figures are almost identical to the results obtained when this question was last asked in January 2009.
Coalition voters show majority support (56%/31%), Greens voters are strongly opposed (25%/65%) and Labor voters split 41%/41%.
There are substantial differences by gender – 63% of men support and 26% oppose but women oppose 48% to 25%.
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banks, influence, media, mining companies, Political influence, power
Politically Influential Bodies in Australia
Q. Which of the following do you think are the most powerful and politically influential organisations in Australia?
35% of people surveyed think that media companies (e.g. News Ltd, TV stations) are the most powerful and politically influential organisations in Australia, 22% think that the most powerful and politically influential organisations in Australia are major banks, and 10% think power is held by mining companies (e.g. BHP-Billiton).
Labor voters were more likely to think that the most influential and powerful organisations in Australia are the major banks (28%), while Coalition voters were more likely than the average to think trade unions are (16%). Green voters were more likely to think that most power and influence is vested with mining companies (18%).
People aged 55 years and over were more likely to think that media companies are the most powerful organisations in Australia (40%), while people aged 25 – 34 were more likely to think power and influence in Australia is held by mining companies (16%).