MOST AUSTRALIANS (62%) SAY CARBON TAX WILL HAVE NO IMPACT ON GLOBAL CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS & 75% DON?T WANT CARBON PRICE TO GO HIGHER
A special telephone Morgan Poll conducted over two nights (July 13/14, 2011) last week found only 37% of Australians support the Gillard Government?s proposed Carbon Tax compared to a clear majority (58%) that are opposed. The Morgan Poll also asked Australians whether they agreed or disagreed with a number of statements made about the Gillard Government?s proposed Carbon Tax. It found:
A majority of Australians (62%) agree that ?The Carbon Tax will have no significant impact on reducing the total world-wide volume of carbon dioxide put into the atmosphere? (34% disagree). An overwhelming majority of Australians (75%) disagree that ?The $23 a tonne carbon price should be higher? while only 15% agree that it should be higher. Slightly more Australians (52%) agree ?We should not have Carbon Tax until China and the USA have a similar tax?. While 47% disagree. Australians are divided on whether ?The Carbon Tax is a good first step towards a market-based price on carbon? (49% agree cf. 45% disagree). Nearly a third of Australians (32%) agree that ?The proposed Carbon Tax is mainly designed to redistribute wealth in Australia? while a majority of Australians (63%) disagree. A majority of Australians (51%) agree ?The Carbon Tax should cover more than 500 companies?. (40% disagree). Australians and electors are evenly split on whether ?The Carbon Tax will significantly increase the number of people working for the Government? with 43% agreeing cf. 42% disagreeing.
Gary Morgan says:
?Although Australians? views about the Carbon Tax divide strongly along party lines, there are many points on which Australians are in agreement. A majority of Australians agree (62%) that ?The Carbon Tax will have no significant impact on reducing the total world-wide volume of carbon dioxide put into the atmosphere? and an even larger majority (75%) disagree that ?The $23 a tonne carbon price should be higher.?
?The Gillard Government?s plan to increase the Carbon Tax by 2.5% per year plus inflation taking it to $24.15 in 2013 and $25.40 in 2014 before becoming a floating price in 2015 is clearly against the wishes of the Australian population.
?Even more worryingly for the Gillard Government, nearly a third of Australians (32%) believe ?The proposed Carbon Tax is mainly designed to redistribute wealth in Australia.? Although this is a reality with all taxation, it appears the Government?s main message of using the Carbon Tax to reduce Australia?s carbon dioxide emissions and help prevent Global Warming is being ?drowned out? by discussion about how it will impact upon household budgets.?
Full Tables & Details: http://www.roymorgan.com/news/polls/2011/4687
ONLY 37% OF AUSTRALIANS SUPPORT THE GILLARD GOVERNMENT?S CARBON TAX WHILE CLEAR MAJORITY OF AUSTRALIANS (58% - UP 5%) DO NOT
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.
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.?
Full Tables & Details: http://www.roymorgan.com/news/polls/2011/4686
