Antinuclear

Australians increasingly support carbon tax, despite Abbott’s claims

 Abbott is out of touch on carbon tax uknowispeaksense, From the Climate Institute, June 23, 2013

A national poll from early June reveals that there is no support for the claim that the Federal election is a referendum on the carbon laws. It also shows that more Australians oppose a double dissolution on the laws than support one, said The Climate Institute today.

“The carbon laws themselves are not a dominant reason behind those supporting the Coalition, nor is there majority support for their repeal or a double dissolution, ” said John Connor, CEO of The Climate Institute.

“The claim that this election is a ‘referendum on the carbon tax’ is without foundation. Issues of economic management, trust and competence are much stronger influences behind the Coalition vote.”…..

Key findings include:

• Only a third (37 per cent) of Australians believe that the Coalition should repeal carbon pricing if it is elected government at the next federal election. That is down from 48 in an Ipsos poll of late May 2012, as reported last July in the  Climate of the Nation Report 2012.
• There is no mandate for a double dissolution if the Coalition fails to get the carbon laws abolished, with considerably more people against a double dissolution (43 per cent) than for one (34 per cent)…..

“There is perhaps a growing recognition that the cost of living impacts were not as severe as claimed by many and that the carbon price is beginning to work,” said Connor.

New data from Westpac Economics shows that the carbon price added less than half a per cent to the Consumer Price Index – half of what was expected. At the same time, emissions from energy fell by 7 per cent between MArch 2012 and March 2013, according to consultancy Pitt & Sherry.

“Australians just want to move on and are much more concerned with the economy, jobs and general broken promises,” Connor said. “They don’t want to waste more time squabbling over carbon pricing, which they are starting to see at work, as Australia’s energy emissions have fallen and  cost of living scares did not materialise.” The full fact sheet is here   http://uknowispeaksense.wordpress.com/2013/06/23/abbott-is-out-of-touch-on-carbon-tax/

June 24, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | election 2013