South Australian battery
Q. It was recently announced by the South Australian government that technology company Tesla will construct the “world’s largest battery” in South Australia. The battery will store wind energy to be used in high-demand periods, with the aim of increasing the reliability of the South Australian energy grid. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Vote other | ||
| Total good idea | 73% | 79% | 70% | 82% | 69% | |
| Total bad idea | 5% | 1% | 8% | 1% | 11% | |
| Very good idea | 42% | 48% | 40% | 46% | 39% | |
| Good idea | 31% | 31% | 30% | 36% | 30% | |
| Neither god nor bad idea | 14% | 12% | 14% | 13% | 14% | |
| Bad idea | 2% | 1% | 3% | 1% | 5% | |
| Very bad idea | 3% | <1% | 5% | – | 6% | |
| Don’t know | 8% | 8% | 7% | 3% | 6% |
73% agree that the construction of the battery in South Australia is a good idea and 5% think it is a bad idea. Those most likely to think it is a good idea were Greens voters (82%), Labor voters (79%) and university educated (79%).
65% of South Australian respondents think it is a good idea, 8% think it is a bad idea and 22% think it is neither. (note – small sample)
Coal vs renewables
Q. Which of the following statements is closest to your view?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote Other |
||
|
Governments should prioritise support for the coal industry over the renewable energy industry |
6% |
3% |
14% |
– |
2% |
|
|
Government should prioritise support for the renewable energy industry over the coal industry |
50% |
56% |
39% |
89% |
56% |
|
|
The Government should treat both industries equally |
28% |
28% |
35% |
5% |
34% |
|
|
Don’t know |
15% |
13% |
12% |
6% |
8% |
50% of respondents agree more with the statement that the Government should prioritise support for the renewable energy industry over the coal industry and only 6% think they should prioritise coal over renewables. 28% think they should treat both industries equally.
Those most likely to think the Government should give priority to renewable energy were Greens voters (89%) and respondents with university education (59%).
Coal vs renewables – Government priorities
Q. And which of the following statements do you think is closer to the Federal Government’s current position?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote Other |
||
|
The Government prioritises the coal industry over the renewable energy industry |
49% |
59% |
38% |
81% |
51% |
|
|
The Government prioritises the renewable energy industry over the coal industry |
12% |
10% |
16% |
10% |
8% |
|
|
The Government treats both industries equally |
13% |
9% |
20% |
– |
18% |
|
|
Don’t know |
27% |
23% |
26% |
9% |
23% |
49% of respondents agree more with the statement that the Government prioritises the coal industry over the renewable energy industry and only 12% think they prioritise the renewable energy industry over the coal industry. 13% think they treat both industries equally.
Those most likely to think the Government prioritises the coal industry were Greens voters (81%) and Labor voters (59%).
Government support for energy industries
Q. Do you think the Federal Government gives enough or not enough support to the following?
|
Gives enough support |
Does not give enough support |
Don’t know |
|
|
The coal industry |
60% |
12% |
28% |
|
Wind farms |
18% |
56% |
25% |
|
Large scale solar |
15% |
55% |
30% |
|
Roof top solar |
21% |
57% |
22% |
60% think that the Federal Government gives enough support to the coal industry and a majority think they do not give enough support to roof top solar (57%), wind farms (56%) or large scale solar (55%).
A majority of all voter groups think the Government gives enough support to the coal industry.
A large majority of Labor and Greens voters think the Government does not give enough support to roof top solar (Labor 67%/Greens 79%), wind farms (71%/86%) or large scale solar (66%/82%).
Liberal/National voters were more divided but were more likely to think the Government does not give enough support to large scale solar (26% enough/42% not enough), roof top solar (33%/43%) or wind farms (34%/39%).
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 |
Sep 2014 Renewable |
Sep 2014 Fossil fuels |
||
|
The environment |
69% |
5% |
9% |
17% |
77% |
5% |
|
|
Electricity costs |
47% |
18% |
11% |
24% |
45% |
19% |
|
|
The economy |
42% |
20% |
11% |
26% |
39% |
29% |
|
|
Jobs |
37% |
20% |
16% |
27% |
36% |
25% |
Overall, respondents think that renewable energy is better for the environment (69%), electricity costs (47%), the economy (42%) and jobs (37%). Since this question was asked in September, main changes are a decline for renewables being better for the environment (from 77% to 69%) and a decline for fossil fuels being better for the economy (from 29% to 20%).
There were few substantial differences across demographic groups – other than for electricity costs where 52% of women think renewables are better compared to 41% of men.
Liberal/National voters were more likely to think fossil fuels are better for jobs (30%).
Renewable energy use
Q. Does your household have the following?
|
|
Total
|
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
| Solar rooftop panels |
27% |
29% |
28% |
28% |
30% |
|
| Solar hot water |
17% |
18% |
16% |
20% |
20% |
|
| A “green energy” option from your power provider |
22% |
24% |
20% |
34% |
18% |
27% of respondents said they had solar rooftop panels, 17% have solar hot water and 22% have a “green energy” option f=rom their power provider.
Those more likely to have solar rooftop panels were aged 55+ (34%) and live in Queensland (36%).
Those more likely to have solar hot water were aged 55+ (22%).
Those more likely to have “green power” were Greens voters (34%) and live in Victoria (30%).
Consider renewable energy
Q. Are you considering obtaining any of the following in the next twelve months?
|
|
Total
|
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
| Solar rooftop panels |
14% |
14% |
11% |
36% |
14% |
|
| Solar hot water |
10% |
12% |
8% |
15% |
7% |
|
| A “green energy” option from your power provider |
6% |
6% |
3% |
21% |
2% |
Note: percentages based on those who do not currently have/use
14% said they were considering obtaining solar panels in the next twelve months, 10% were considering solar hot water and 6% were considering “green energy”.
Those more likely to be considering solar rooftop panels were on incomes over $1,600 pw (21%) and Greens voters (36%).
Those more likely to be considering “green energy” were and Greens voters (21%).
Renewable energy target
Q. Australia currently has a target of having 20 per cent of our energy generated from renewable resources (e.g. hydro, solar, wind farms, geothermal) by 2020. Do you think this target is too high, not high enough or about right?
|
Total |
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
| Not high enough |
40% |
47% |
31% |
67% |
|
| Too high |
11% |
6% |
19% |
7% |
|
| About right |
33% |
36% |
33% |
17% |
|
| Don’t know |
16% |
11% |
17% |
9% |
40% think that the 2020 target of 20% renewable energy is not high enough, 33% think it is about right and 11% think it is too high.
Those most likely to think it is not high enough were Greens voters (67%), Labor voters (47%), aged 18-24 (45%) and aged 55+ (45%).
19% of Liberal/National voters and 17% of men thought it was too high.
Essential Report
Two Party Preferred: 14 May 2019
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