New research suggests the New England electorate is becoming “greener” when it comes to how we see the future and that nearly three out of four of us support moving to renewable energy sources.
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And polling in March this year of residents in the federal electorate revealed that six out of 10 people are against the proposed Shenhua coal mine going ahead on the Liverpool Plains.
A sample of 662 residents was polled by telephone on Tuesday, March 10 about their support or opposition to the mine – which now lies in the neighbouring electorate of Parkes following the recent redistribution.
The polling revealed only 26.3 per cent of the total supported the mine, although nearly 12 per cent were undecided.
The data was commissioned by the Canberra-based policy think tank, the Australia Institute.
A spokesman, strategist Dan Cass, said the research showed a continuing shift among what has been viewed as conservative voters from coal to clean energy.
“More people are thinking deeply about environmental threats and clean energy opponents in some cases are making very heartfelt shifts in political allegiance,” Mr Cass said yesterday.
“Conservatives are embracing clean energy.”
He said that previously unreleased polling showed that almost three quarters of the federal electorate of New England supports Australia gradually transitioning to 100% renewable energy by 2030.
In comparison, the Shenhua coal mine was rejected by a majority of National Party voters and almost two thirds of voters overall.
“There is massive support for renewable energy right across the political spectrum in New England, while coal is politically toxic,” Mr Cass said.
“Almost three quarters (72%) of people in New England support renewables, while only 26% support the proposed vast Shenhua coal mine.
“A majority of National Party voters oppose Shenhua, while two thirds (67%) support a policy of 100% renewable energy.
“The polling indicates that the community backs renewables not coal and that will encourage all candidates to support the inevitable switch to clean energy.”
The two polls were conducted by ReachTEL for The Australia Institute as part of research into attitudes towards coal and renewables projects and economic issues.
While the most recent poll was conducted in March, the previous poll about renewable energy was taken on December 17 last year and was a sample of 747 residents.
Mr Cass said the results in relation to more New Englanders switching to clean energy demands and philosophies mirrored what was happening across the country and internationally.
He said climate change was changing people’s opinions and previous sceptics were in fact becoming less antagonistic to environmental concerns about climate change – and many people had shifted in their previous stance on renewable energy.
The institute famously has mentioned New England MP and deputy PM Barnaby Joyce as one such convert.
It said Mr Joyce had been noted by observers as having been a critic of renewables, including wind power, but recently had been promoting new wind farms in his electorate and espousing their future in our futures.
