New research commissioned by ACT Independent Senator David Pocock shows WA voters are worried about climate change and care deeply about protecting the environment.
Polling conducted by Redbridge of more than 1,500 Western Australian voters at the beginning of October shows that Labor’s concerns about voters in that state not supporting reform to better protect Nature is misplaced.
Twenty-four per cent of WA voters are very worried and 46 per cent are somewhat worried about the impacts of climate change. Concern is strongest among Labor and Greens voters and women.
Labor enjoys strong support with a 2PP of 54.5 but at the same time 47 per cent of WA voters say the federal government has taken too little action on climate change since the last election with just 23 per cent saying they’d done about the right amount.
Eight out of every 10 voters in Western Australia agree that government decision-makers have a duty of care to protect future generations from climate change. Senator Pocock currently has a bill before the senate to create such a duty of care which the major parties have so far failed to support.
There is strong bipartisan support from an overwhelming majority of WA voters who believe the government should strengthen national environmental laws to better protect nature (78 per cent), assess the climate impact from new projects before approving them (79 per cent) and assess the logging of native forests under federal environmental protection laws (72 per cent).
The polling shows most voters want to see a national environmental regulator that is independent of government. This is rated very important by 43 per cent of voters, somewhat important by 32 per cent, not particularly important by nine per cent, and not at all important by three per cent.
Importantly, a majority of people in Western Australia (55 per cent) are in favour of higher taxes on mining companies for the development of Australia’s natural resources, including coal, critical minerals and gas.
Senator Pocock said the federal government needed to listen to the community and amend its Nature Positive Bill.
“There are eight days left this year for the senate to pass legislation to establish a national environmental regulator,” Senator Pocock said.
“This research shows Australians, even in our most resource-dependent state, want to see a regulator that is independent and more ambition from the federal government on climate change and protecting Nature.
“There is also overwhelming community support to allow native forest logging to be assessed under federal environmental law.
“I urge the government to negotiate in good faith with the crossbench and make the small sensible changes needed to get support for this legislation to pass.”
The research also examined attitudes to reforming negative gearing and increasing the rate of safety net payments.
When told the current value of JobSeeker payments, 19 per cent of WA voters say they should be increased a lot and 34 per cent increased a little. WA voters are generally supportive of limiting the use of negative gearing to a single investment property, with support higher among Greens, Labor and independent voters.
A copy of the polling is available on request.