ONLY 37% OF AUSTRALIANS SUPPORT THE GILLARD GOVERNMENT’S CARBON

A special telephone Morgan Poll conducted over the last two nights of July 13/14, 2011 found:

• 37% (up 5%) of Australians when asked for their view of Global Warming believe “Concerns are exaggerated,” 46% (down 4% from June 2011) say “If we don’t act now it will be too late,” and 14% (down 1%) say “It is already too late.”
  
• 58% (up 5%) of Australian electors oppose the Gillard Government’s proposed Carbon Tax, 37% (unchanged) support the Carbon Tax legislation and 5% can’t say.
  
• If the Carbon Tax is introduced Australian electors are split on whether a future Prime Minister Tony Abbott should overturn the Carbon Tax with 48% (up 3%) supporting Abbott overturning the Carbon Tax legislation and 45% (unchanged) opposed to Abbott overturning the Carbon Tax legislation.

Following these questions the Morgan Poll asked a series of further questions about the Carbon Tax and its potential effect on Australia due to our reliance on brown coal and black coal, the effect on electricity charges and whether nuclear power is a potential solution to provide cleaner energy that does not emit carbon dioxide.

Brown coal generated Power Stations

A majority of Australian electors when told: “Victoria currently relies on brown coal to generate electricity which provides about 85% of Victoria’s power. Brown coal is different from black coal as it is not safe to be exported in ships. A Carbon Tax will result in a significant increase in the cost of generating Victoria’s power.” And asked “Are you aware of this or not?” 52% (down 1% since June 2011) were not aware while 48% (up 1%) are aware.

A majority of electors in Victoria (74%, up2%) and Tasmania (59%, up 3%) are aware, while majorities in other States are not aware — Queensland (67%, up 3%), Western Australia (64%, down 4%), New South Wales (59%, down 1%) and South Australia (55, down 2%).

Electors were then asked “Do you think the Carbon Tax policy should or should not apply to Victoria’s brown coal generated power stations?” Despite being told about the importance of brown coal to Victoria’s electricity system and the implications of a Carbon Tax, 49% (up 1%) of electors believe a Carbon Tax should apply to Victoria’s brown coal generated power stations, 38% (down 4%) of electors don’t and 13% (up 3%) can’t say. Support for the Carbon Tax applied to brown coal generating power stations is significantly higher than the 37% of Australian electors who support the Gillard Government’s Carbon Tax.

More electors in every State except Queensland (44% should apply cf. 39% not apply), believe a Carbon Tax should apply to Victoria’s brown coal generated power stations: New South Wales (49% should apply cf. 36% not apply); Victoria (47% cf. 45%); Western Australia (62% cf. 26%); South Australia (67% cf. 23%) and Tasmania (50% cf. 38%).

Black coal generated Power Stations

Support is even stronger (51%, unchanged) for a Carbon Tax applying to Australia’s black coal generated power stations; 40% (up 1%) do not support and 9% (down 1%) can’t say. Once again support for applying the Carbon Tax to black coal generating power stations is significantly higher than the 37% of Australian electors that support the Gillard Government’s Carbon Tax.

A majority of electors in four States support a Carbon Tax applying to Australia’s black coal generated power stations: Western Australia (61% cf. 28%); South Australia (61% cf. 32%); New South Wales (51% should apply cf. 39% not apply); and Tasmania (51% cf. 38%). More electors in Victoria (50% cf. 40%) believe a Carbon Tax should apply than should not apply while in Queensland (41% cf. 50%) believe a Carbon Tax should apply than should not apply.

Higher electricity charges

Following the question on coal generated power stations electors surveyed were asked “If the Carbon Tax means higher electricity charges, do you agree or disagree with the proposed tax on companies emitting carbon dioxide?” Australians are split on this question with 48% (up 3%) agreeing and 47% (down 3%) disagreeing while 5% (unchanged) can’t say.

On a State level opposition is strongest in Queensland (57%) and Tasmania (51%). Nearly half of those in Victoria (49%) and NSW (46%) also disagree. However, more electors in South Australia (61%) and Western Australia (54%) agree with the Carbon Tax even if it means higher electricity charges.

Nuclear Power alternative

Following the question on coal generated power stations electors surveyed were asked “If the worries about carbon dioxide are a real problem. Many suggest that the cleanest energy source Australia can use is nuclear power. Do you support Australia developing nuclear power to reduce Australia’s carbon dioxide emissions or not?”

A clear majority of Australian electors (58%, down 1%) do not want to develop nuclear power to reduce Australia’s carbon dioxide emissions compared to only 35% (down 1%) that say we should develop nuclear power and 7% (up 2%) that can’t say.

A clear majority of electors in all States except South Australia are opposed to developing nuclear power to reduce carbon dioxide emissions: Victoria (64% don’t want nuclear power cf. 32% do want nuclear power); Queensland (63% cf. 31%); Tasmania (62% cf. 38%); Western Australia (59% cf. 30%) and New South Wales (54% cf. 38%);. More South Australians 52% say develop nuclear power than not, 40%.

Gary Morgan says:

“Australians remain firmly opposed to Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s proposed Carbon Tax with a clear majority (58%, up 5% since June 2011) rejecting the Carbon Tax legislation whilst only 37% (unchanged) support it.

“However, if the legislation is enacted, Australians remain split on whether Tony Abbott if elected at the next Federal Election should overturn the legislation — 48% (up 3%) of electors say Abbott should overturn the Carbon Tax legislation while 45% (unchanged) say Abbott should not overturn the Carbon Tax if elected.

“The Opposition to the Carbon Tax should come as no surprise as the number of Australians worried about Global Warming continues to fall — now 46% (down 4% since June 2011 and down 21% since April 2006) Australians say about Global Warming ‘If we don’t act now it will be too late’ — the first time this has represented only a minority of Australians.

“An increasing number of Australians now say about Global Warming that ‘Concerns are exaggerated’ (37%, up 5% since June 2011 and up a massive 24% since April 2006). The most consistent viewpoint about Global Warming is from those who believe ‘It is already too late’ (14%, down 1% from June 2011 and down 1% from April 2006) — virtually unchanged throughout the past five years.

“Despite the opposition to the Carbon Tax, Australian electors are convinced it must apply to coal — despite its importance as an energy resource — 49% (up 1%) believe the Carbon Tax should apply to Victoria’s brown coal generated power stations and 51% (unchanged) believe the Carbon Tax should apply to Australia’s black coal generated power stations. Only 35% (down 1%) of electors believe nuclear power is the ‘clean’ answer Australia could develop to reduce Australia’s carbon dioxide emissions.”

This telephone Morgan Poll on Australian attitudes to the Carbon Tax was conducted over the last two nights July 13/14, 2011 with an Australia-wide sample of 1,262 Australians aged 14+ including 1,083 electors.