For the first time, more Australians support the carbon pricing laws than oppose them, according to new polling from The Climate Institute.
The results of the Climate of the Nation 2014 survey, issued today, found that 34 per cent of respondents support the laws, up 6 points from 2012.
Opposition is down 22 points from 2012, while support for the Abbott Government’s proposed “Direct Action” plan is low at 22 per cent.
The results coincide with plans by Mr Abbott to reintroduce a bill to axe the carbon tax.
Speaking on the bill this morning, he said he was confident it would pass the new senate.
“I expect this toxic tax to be gone,” he said.
Fifty-seven per cent of respondents think that the Abbott Government should take climate change more seriously, according to CEO of The Climate Institute John Connor, who said voters mistrusted the Prime Minister on the issue.
“Opposition to carbon pricing has continued to decline and, as in other polls, there is a decline in the minority supporting repeal,” he said at the launch of the survey in Canberra.
“For the first time more support carbon pricing than oppose it but there is still uncertainty about its benefits and its operation, while only around one in five Australians thinks that the Government’s alternative is credible.”
The survey also found that 20 per cent of voters trust Tony Abbott when he says he is concerned about addressing climate change in contrast to 53 per cent who do not.
Thirty-seven per cent strongly distrust the Prime Minister, while 32 per cent do not trust Bill Shorten.
The Opposition Leader also addressed the media on the issue this morning, saying “climate change is real”.
The results of the Climate of the Nation 2014 are based on a nationally representative online survey conducted by JWS Research over May 16 to 20 among 1145 Australians aged 18 years and above
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