Queensland jobs and economy can power ahead with climate action: poll

March 16, 2022

By The Queenslander staff

Queenslanders, including voters in traditionally mining-reliant regional areas, believe action on climate change will grow Australia’s economy rather than set it back, polling has found.

Two-thirds of people polled in Queensland said climate action would benefit the economy, with 23% saying those benefits would be immediate and 43% saying they expected “some short-term costs” but positive long-term effects.

Just over one in five Queenslanders (22%) said action on climate would damage the economy in the short and long term.

The polling was conducted by YouGov on behalf of the Australian Conservation Foundation and surveyed 15,000 people across all states and territories.

More than half of people living in areas dominated by traditional mining industries were positive on the long-term economic benefits of a transition to clean energy.

This included 61% of those polled in the electorate of Flynn which covers the economic powerhouse of Gladstone, 60% of people in Capricornia to the north of Flynn, 57% in Maranoa and 58% in Dawson where outgoing Nationals MP George Christensen has been a long time voice against action on climate.

Overall, action on climate was ranked as a priority on which to vote behind the Government’s handling of COVID-19 and cost of living issues – although Generation Z voters said it was a bigger priority than cost of living.

The Morrison Government has committed to a 26-28% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 while Labor has adopted 43% by 2030. Both the major parties have pledged net zero emissions by 2050.

ACF chief executive Kelly O’Shanassy said the 2022 YouGov poll “shattered the myth” that climate action is viewed as bad for the economy, particularly in regional areas.

The survey was conducted before the devastating floods in Brisbane and northern NSW that have put the weather-related effects of climate change back at the centre of the national conversation.

“People across Australia want climate action because they know it’s good for their health and will create future opportunities for young people,” Ms O’Shannasy said.

“Across the country, a majority think the top climate solution is to replace gas and coal-fired power stations with renewable energy and battery storage.

“A majority of Australians are not convinced the Prime Minister’s commitment to net zero by 2050 is enough action – and that includes people in regional and rural areas.”

The poll found less than a quarter of people in the electorates of Flynn, Bonner, Brisbane and Ryan believe climate action is bad for the economy in the long term.

The most popular climate solutions in Brisbane, Bonner and Ryan is replacing coal and gas-fired power with renewable energy and battery storage, while in Flynn it is powering government buildings with renewable energy.